Halloween is almost here, which means trick-or-treaters, fun costumes, lots of candy and, unfortunately, an uptick in vandalism and crime.
There are many reasons why crime increases on Halloween. In general, there is an uptick in crime on holidays because people leave their homes unattended, which creates opportunities for vandalism and theft. People also intake more alcohol on holidays, influencing reckless decisions and behavior.
In case there’s theft from your home, your stolen property should be covered under personal property coverage in your homeowners policy. This can help minimize your losses: when you file a theft claim with your insurance company, and it is approved, you will get the actual cash value of the stolen property, though there is the option to purchase replacement cost coverage as well. Replacement cost value covers the value of your item without factoring in depreciation.
Vandalism also should be covered under homeowners insurance—the extent of this coverage depends on your policy terms. This includes what is protected, what is excluded, and the limits of certain types of claims. Some common exclusions include damage caused by people living in the home and damage to cars, which should be covered under an auto insurance policy.
Types of damage that may be covered include: property damage, in cases where the structure of the home is damaged; personal property damage, in cases where items in or on your property are damaged; and even landscaping damage, in cases where trees and shrubs are damaged.
If you are the victim of property theft or vandalism, don’t panic: document everything and contact your independent insurance agent so he or she can help start making your whole again. That should remove the trick and leave you with only the treat this Halloween.
Matt McDonough is PIA Northeast's writer, editor and content curator. Matt joined PIA Northeast in September 2023. Before that, he had been an editor for the online entertainment magazine Collider from 2021-23 as a copy editor for its lists section. Matt entered the world of journalism at his alma mater, SUNY New Paltz, writing and reporting for the college's student run newspaper, The New Paltz Oracle. He graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Creative Writing in 2020.
