It’s almost time! Halloween night is almost upon us, which means costumes, trick or treating, too much chocolate and a lot of fun all around. Whether you’re 5 or 50, there’s some whacky, cheesy fun to be had in All Hallows Eve. But for some, Halloween is also a time for vandalism, nuisance and crime. Hidden behind masks, vandals can get a bit more brazen, often wreaking havoc on homes and businesses alike. To prevent tears and frustration alongside the Halloween hangover, we have a few tips for you.
Vampiric Vandals
Putting the ‘trick’ into ‘trick or treat’, vandals and pranksters are often out in force on the 31st of October. And their favourite targets are cars and shops. Graffiti, broken windows and other damage can be expensive to repair, as well as hurting your business’s image while you wait to get it fixed. Shops with Halloween displays and restaurants with outdoor seating are especially vulnerable to minor but costly acts of vandalism. Motion-activated lighting around your building exterior can be a huge deterrent here, as even disguised the vandals won’t want to be caught. Protective window film is a great option to keep your glass from shattering, while visible security cameras and signage encourages them to stay away and find a less heavily-protected place to do their mischief.
Shuffling Shoplifters
Halloween provides cover for those with less-than-festive intentions. Costumes and masks allow shoplifters and intruders to blend in with legitimate customers, increasing the risk of theft in retail stores, bars, and other high-traffic businesses. This can be particularly challenging in settings where facial recognition or regular ID checks are in place, as disguises make it difficult to confirm identities. Extra floor staff are worth their weight in gold around this time to deter thieves, along with enhanced surveillance systems to capture footage that can be used later.
Drone Demons
With drones now popular for events and personal filming, your business might encounter unauthorized drones hovering around, recording your private property. Although often innocent, drones hanging around near restricted areas or windows could be cause for concern. They may well be snooping around trying to gather information on your property, seeing how well it’s been protected and where potential weaknesses are. Here, you need to be aware of your local regulations around drone use so that you know what steps to take if it happens. You could also consider putting up signage or even anti-drone technology. If necessary, report unauthorized drones to local authorities, especially if they’re hovering close to sensitive or secure areas.
Skeletal Social Engineering Scams
Ok, that one was a bit of a mouthful! But it’s important to know that Halloween-themed phishing or social engineering scams aren’t just limited to email. They can show up in person too. Fraudsters could approach your front desk personnel claiming to be a seasonal worker or an event vendor and try to gain access to restricted areas of your business. They will often use costumes and false stories to deflect suspicion, and be in and out before you know it. It’s important to train your staff to be vigilant, and not share sensitive information with unverified people. Encourage them to politely but firmly verify the identity of anyone new coming into the building, including seasonal staff.
Halloween should be a time for fun, not heightened business risk. With an extra focus on physical security, businesses can enjoy the season without compromising safety or profits. If you need help protecting your business, or if you want a professional eye run over your security systems before Halloween, just get in touch with us, and we would be happy to help.
