Tricks to Look Out for This Halloween

Halloween is known for its tricks as much as its treats. While crime doesn't automatically spike on this night, the holiday creates unique opportunities for mischief. Costumes, distractions, and busy streets make theft and vandalism easier. To protect your business, watch out for these tricks. 

Crimes in Costume

Kids aren't the only ones who like to dress up. For some criminals, Halloween provides the perfect opportunity to disguise their identity by donning a costume without looking out of place. Here are just a few examples: 

• A criminal robbed three businesses at gunpoint while wearing a skeleton and a clown mask, just days before Halloween.
• Two men, both wearing Halloween masks and carrying flashlights, were caught inside a Spirit Halloween store and arrested for suspected burglary and unlawful ammunition possession. 
• An individual wearing a bulletproof vest, mask, and tactical belt was caught attempting to bring a gun into a crowded bar and claimed it was part of his Halloween costume when confronted by officers.

Fortunately, there are ways to protect your business from the threat of criminals in disguise. 

What to Do 

To keep your business safe this Halloween, double check your physical security measures:
 

• Secure the premises by locking every entryway that isn't used regularly.
• Restrict access to nonpublic points of entry.
• Store keys in an electronic key control system.

Vanishing Vehicles

The scariest part of Halloween isn't the imaginary monsters. It's the criminals prowling the streets for easy targets — like unattended vehicles and idling cars. 

Last Halloween, a man stole a vehicle from a rental company and turned it into a different kind of hayride when he led police on a high-speed chase that ended in a hayfield. That same night, a man was charged with several carjacking attempts. In one instance, he even tried to wrangle the key fob away from the owner. 

What to Do

Whether you manage a dealership lot, body shop, or vehicle fleet, make sure every vehicle is locked. If possible, park them out of sight and secure keys in an electronic key control system. 

If you have employees out and about in company vehicles on Halloween, remind them of vehicle safety tips such as not leaving the car unattended while idling, keeping track of the keys, and not storing valuables in the glove box or trunk. 

By planning ahead, you can experience more treats than tricks this Halloween.

This post was originally published in 2014 and updated in 2025.