LOS ANGELES, Calif. (PRWEB) October 27, 2021

Starting this week ghosts and goblins will take to the streets as Halloween festivities and parties begin. Mercury Insurance (NYSE:MCY) experts want to help policyholders keep themselves, their families and their homes safe on the days leading up to All Hallows’ Eve.

“Halloween is fun for young and old, but it can wreak havoc on your home and property,” said Christopher O’Rourke, Mercury Insurance’s vice president of property claims. “Homeowners should stay vigilant by taking precautionary safety measures around their homes and checking their policy to make sure it’s updated.”

Whether you plan to host a Halloween party, welcoming trick-or-treaters, or settling in for the night with a scary movie, here are a few tips to keep homeowners, drivers, and trick-or-treaters safe.

• Make sure pathways are clutter-free. Remove outdoor items such as garden hoses, tools, and even children’s toys from the walkway leading up to your home.
• Leave the lights on. Turn your porch and sidewalk lights on so guests can see their way to your door with no problem. Even a clear walkway is hard to navigate in the dark. Activate any motion sensor lights outside your home and keep a light on indoors if you plan to be away for the evening.
• Lock the front door. With trick-or-treaters consistently showing up to your home on Halloween night, the desire to keep the door unlocked so it’s easy to open can be hard to resist. However, the slight inconvenience of locking and unlocking the door throughout the night is nothing compared to the damage a thief could do to your home or yourself. Lock the front door every time you close it.
• Keep back gates locked. Keep any back gates, back-facing garage doors, or entranceways closed and locked to make your yard less desirable to burglars looking to make their way onto your property without suspicion.
• Drive Carefully. Be cautious while driving, especially in residential areas. Keep an eye out for pedestrians or children darting out between cars.
• Park Your Car in a Safe Place. If possible, park your car in your garage. If you don’t have access to a garage, make sure to park in a well-lit, populated area and always activate your alarm when leaving your vehicle.
• Stay Visible. Add glow sticks to your group’s outfits and bring a flashlight with you so motorists can see you in the dark when crossing streets and as you walk past driveways.
• Don’t text and walk. Put smartphones and other electronic devices away and pay attention to drivers on the road. One social post could ruin your night, so save the photos and updates for when you get home.
• Watch where you cross the street. Use crosswalks, traffic signals and street corners when crossing roads. Don’t cross the street between parked cars and remember to look left and right to check for cars before stepping off the curb.
• Review Your Policy. Halloween is a busy holiday period with a lot of activity in neighborhoods, so it’s not out of the ordinary to hear reports of vandalism to cars and homes. The good news is that the right kind of insurance can help you with many of these costly pranks – talk to your insurance agent before Halloween to review your current coverage.

Looking for more safety tips? Take our Halloween safety quiz and find out if you can spot the trick or treat. Visit Mercury’s Halloween tips and safety page for more information.

About Mercury Insurance

Mercury Insurance (NYSE: MCY) is a multiple-line insurance carrier predominantly offering personal auto, homeowners, renters and commercial insurance through a network of independent agents in Arizona, California, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia, as well as auto insurance in Florida. Mercury writes other lines of insurance in various states, including business owners and business auto, landlord, home-sharing, ride-hailing and mechanical protection insurance.

Since 1962, Mercury has provided customers with tremendous value for their insurance dollar by pairing ultracompetitive rates with excellent customer service. Mercury has earned A ratings from A.M. Best and Fitch, as well as ranking highest in the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience StudySM and four consecutive “Best Auto Insurance Company” awards from Insure.com. For more information visit http://www.MercuryInsurance.com or follow the company on Twitter or Facebook.

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