There’s nothing quite like waking up on November 1 to find toilet paper cascading from your trees, eggs dripping down your windows, your jack-o-lantern smashed on your sidewalk, and your mailbox and garbage cans dented, dinged and deposited down the street. Take the following safety precautions to put any Halloween tricksters right out of business before damage is done.

• Leave floodlights and interior lights on bright settings on Halloween to discourage mischief-makers.  If it looks like you’re home, you’re less likely to be a target of tricks. Consider motion lights that light up when people get near the home. This can alert you when egg throwers are approaching your house, and help keep you safe all year long.
• Store garbage cans inside to prevent damage. For extra Halloween safety, make sure cars, bikes and other objects are indoors as well. After your trick-or-treat traffic has ended for the evening, bring your jack-o-lantern inside to thwart late-night vandals
• Create a looped tape of scary sounds to play on an outdoor boom box and frighten off unwanted guests. If pranksters were brave, they wouldn’t be throwing eggs in the dark.
• Finally, hold a Halloween party of your own in your front yard. The treats may stop the tricks before they begin.