Insurers Warn Of Halloween Risks

Halloween is a great time for the kids; they get to go out at night when it is dark, dress up in scary (or otherwise) costumes and best of all they get given mountains of sweets! It can be a bit of a headache for parents having to answer the door every five minutes plus the expense in sweets for children you probably don’t even know. However, recent research has shown that Halloween could be more than an irritation for some homeowners.

Insurers are warning homeowners about the increased risk of damage to their property on Halloween night. Several insurance firms, including Lloyds TSB and Norwich Union, are warning people to brace themselves for damage to their property, with the latter firm saying that the average number of malicious damage claims could rise by as much as 150 per cent.

Cars are also likely to be damaged on Halloween night, with insurers expecting around a 20 per cent increase in claims as a result of trick-or-treaters. The senior claims manager at Norwich Union said: "Traditionally Halloween is associated with fear because of the supernatural but our research shows it's real fears causing the most anxiety."

He described October 31st as the worst day of the year for vandals targeting homes, while he advised homeowners to take precautionary measures such as putting the car in the garage and securing all doors.

The single biggest reported culprit of damage to homes is caused by trick-or-treaters throwing eggs and flour which is responsible for up to 80% of damage.

According to Lloyds TSB, some of the more unusual claims made after Halloween celebrations included repairs to a window shattered by a trick-or-treater's broomstick, a garden shed wrecked by people dressed as witches and a carpet stained by fake blood.

While the vast majority of trick-or-treaters are just in high spirits, it’s worth taking a few simple steps such as putting your vehicle in the garage and making sure your doors are secured.

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