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.
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:
Fortunately, there are ways to protect your business from the threat of criminals in disguise.
To keep your business safe this Halloween, double check your physical security measures:
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.
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.