Halloween warning: Irish households must think twice about 'keeping lights on for trick-or-treaters'
Irish homeowners are on high alert this Halloween, with burglars reportedly eyeing homes left lit up as easy targets. Meanwhile, gardai have issued urgent safety tips to protect your home and family.
Halloween is in full swing with spooky decorations lining the streets, pumpkins glowing on doorsteps and costumes bringing eerie characters to life.
Households across Ireland are preparing for the annual flood of trick-or-treaters - but this year, a warning has been issued for residents to be mindful of more than just ghouls and goblins.
Research shows there is a significant 17% increase in crime-related insurance claims during Halloween, with a staggering 60% of these incidents involving property theft.
Experts have pointed out that certain security oversights can make homes easy targets for burglars, especially amid Halloween’s excitement. One surprisingly common mistake is leaving indoor lights on well past trick-or-treating hours - a move that, instead of providing security, often signals to would-be intruders that the home is vacant.
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Doug Van Soest, owner of SoCal Home Buyers, explained: "A lot of homeowners believe keeping their lights on throughout the night deters burglars, giving the illusion that residents are present, whether they're at home or not. However, this common practice can actually backfire, especially during Halloween. Experienced burglars scout neighborhoods, looking for homes with lights constantly on late into the night. They know this is a tactic homeowners use when away, inadvertently signaling an unoccupied house.
"On Halloween, this risk is amplified. While many homes keep their exterior dark for a spooky atmosphere, interior lights left on after trick-or-treating hours stand out even more. This makes it easier for intruders to see whether anyone is moving inside, or if the home is empty.
"We recommend being strategic with your lighting, particularly on Halloween night. Both during trick-or-treating and after it ends, consider turning off most lights or using timers to create a more natural pattern. This approach is far more effective in deterring potential break-ins than leaving lights on continuously. Remember, the goal is to make your home appear lived-in and active, not just illuminated."
Meanwhile, gardai have issued six important pieces of advice to keep safe over Halloween:
Please be mindful and respectful that not everyone in our community will be participating
Children should always be accompanied by an adult when trick or treating
Please trick or treat in lit up areas or otherwise ensure that you are highly visible to road users
Remember that it is a criminal offence for any person to throw fireworks in the street or in other public places
Do not engage in throwing things like eggs and flour. This is vandalism and may be classed as criminal damage
Please care for the environment – illegal fireworks and illegal bonfires can not only be extremely dangerous but cause lasting environmental damage.
Officers across the country will be out and about working hard to keep everyone safe during the festivities. Operation Tombola is the name of their nationwide operation focusing on preventing and detecting the sale of fireworks and associated public order and anti-social behaviour issues during the Halloween period.
Superintendent Ann-Marie Twomey from the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau said: "If you are celebrating Halloween this year, we want you to safely enjoy the night and we’re asking young people in particular to please be sensible. You can get into the spirit of Halloween without causing distress to others, potentially endangering yourself by using illegal fireworks or doing anything potentially criminal that will get you into bother.”
Gardai are also asking drivers to slow down and show extra caution while driving over the next 48 hours as more people including small children will be out on roads.
If you, or a friend or someone in your group becomes in danger or in an emergency at any time during Halloween, call 999/112 for Garda or other frontline services' assistance. Should anyone feel unsafe or in danger in their home, gardai ask that they please call 999/112 for support.
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