Halloween Home Safety

[oldman45]

Halloween is the one time of the year that most have more strangers knocking on than door in one day than the rest of the year combined. Some of those knocking on the door may be older than the usual age out trick or treating.

It is also the perfect time for a home invasion. Home robberies as well as vandalism rise slightly on that night.

Do you plan for such or just take your chances and run with the odds?

For me, I keep my handgun very close by and out of sight. I keep my yard gates closed and locked. My exterior lights are going to be on.

Last year I had some teens about 18 yrs of age come in a single group. No costume, nothing but a bag for candy. Such worries me.

 

[BarbC]

We don't get shake-downs here for candy. There's simply not a lot of teens at all. If the weather was good enough, I was thinking about sitting at the top of the driveway with the candy etc. to save the little kids the long walk down to the house and the trek back up.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

I think you need to be careful at all times. At my house we have so many kids {about 350} come to our house that I think it's less likely to have a home invasion on Halloween. Don

 

[bitstream]

For me, I keep my handgun very close by and out of sight. I keep my yard gates closed and locked. My exterior lights are going to be on.

That's a tough combo. Most kids know that a house with lights on mean it's giving out candy on Halloween night. A dark house is one to walk past. If they see your lights on, then find your gates locked, they might be upset (kids think like kids). I knew kids when I was young that would have winged an egg at your house for that. I go with my kids to make sure they don't do such things. And, I also intend to stay armed all night, just in case anything happens.

 

[moonclip]

Better get in some practice now........

Bum Lee / De-Animator

......moon

 

[The Highlander]

We don't have that many, most we know, because it is either the neighborhood kids, or one my wife is familiar with (she is a teacher). Never thought about home invasions or a real hooligan at the door, we treat it the same as every other night, which means neither of us is ever very far from a handgun at least. I put on a pistol right after my glasses and pants everyday anyway.

My "P's" of the morning:

Pee
Put on eyeballs
Put on Pants
Put on Pistol
Put the cat out

Oh yeah, Put a large cup of coffee in my tummy!

 

[USAF385]

I keep my yard gates closed and locked. My exterior lights are going to be on.

Now, I'm not an expert on this subject, but isn't that a breaking some Halloween rules? I thought lights on meant "come knock for candy" yet you'll have the gate locked... Hmmm In wonder what the officials would have to say about that.

I'm lucky.. I have never had a single person come to the house on Halloween. You can't see my house from the main road.. or the dirt road.. in fact if you stumble across my driveway you'd probably be scared to drive up it on Halloween..

 

[CW Spook]

Actually, I think Halloween would be the least likely night for a home invasion around here, what with all the potential witnesses. I can't even think of an incidence of vandalism in the neighborhood other than an occasional smashed pumpkin. Rather than dealing with 200+ little kids ringing the bell and disturbing the cats, we usually douse the lights and go for a nice leisurely dinner out of town.

 

[oldman45]

Now, I'm not an expert on this subject, but isn't that a breaking some Halloween rules? I thought lights on meant "come knock for candy" yet you'll have the gate locked... Hmmm In wonder what the officials would have to say about that.

I'm lucky.. I have never had a single person come to the house on Halloween. You can't see my house from the main road.. or the dirt road.. in fact if you stumble across my driveway you'd probably be scared to drive up it on Halloween..

Not against the kids coming by. The fence encloses the back yard and both sides. Got a very large mercury vapor light about 20 feet in the air in both front and rear yards.

This has been a safe upper middle class neighborhood until recently. We had 10 home invasions since Aug 01. In the two years prior, we had two. On home invasion about 5 yrs ago by some passing through ended up with the homeowner being murdered. But since 2001, there has only been three business robberies and one of those was today.

My concern is there are many of the older teens in the area that know I have guns in the house. They may be ok kids but they tell their friends. I have been told that most home invasions were done by someone that knows the house and what is inside. Most of my guns are secure to the point they cannot be stolen but there are maybe 20 around the house that could be stolen. Since I am poor, there is seldom any cash here. I seem to remember having a ten dollar bill back mid summer but it has since been spent.

 

[GatorFarmer]

Most of my guns are secure to the point they cannot be stolen but there are maybe 20 around the house that could be stolen.

Not that I care all that much, but if you're that concerned with security, such statements aren't want you want to make online.

 

[oldman45]

Not that I care all that much, but if you're that concerned with security, such statements aren't want you want to make online.

Very few here know where I live. I am not one to give out my address or phone number either to just anyone.

But if they got here, they have to get past me and the house alarm.. If they are still alive by then, they risk dealing with the lady of the house. If she does not shoot them, even worse would be her to sit on them.

 

[G.T. Smith]

Halloween was such a gas when I was a little kid. My Grand daughter is going to dress up like a monkey in an outfit my wife bought for her. I call her "monkey meat", anyways. She is 18 months old the 9th of Nov.
You can bet that Grandpa is going to watch her every move. I am going as a podunk nerd, so that I don't have to dress up.
We have never had any trick or treaters down here. It's just too far into the woods. They would be welcome though, but my wife probably wouldn't wanna get rid of the candy, especially the tootsie rolls and the peanut butter cups.
IMO trick or treating is for little ones. The older ones are the ones
that are more likely to be up to mischief.
I hope you have a happy and Peaceful Halloween evening oldman45.
Peace,
gordon

 

[oldman45]

IMO trick or treating is for little ones. The older ones are the ones
that are more likely to be up to mischief.
I hope you have a happy and Peaceful Halloween evening oldman45.
Peace,
gordon

Gordon, you are very correct. The older ones are those that work their way up in crimes. The younger ones are those that get hit by cars, trip in potholes and look so cute in their costumes.

Have any of the stores in your area posted signs about removing the halloween masks before entering the store? Still a week before the day and I saw two of the signs yesterday. They are not posted for the younger kids.