What's more terrifying than ghouls and goblins? Insurance claims. Halloween is traditionally a night of mischief. In an ideal world, that would mean an evening of good-natured fun, but many take advantage of the holiday to do actual damage. According to claims data from Travelers collected over the last decade, vandalism claims increase 68% on Halloween compared to all other days of the year. Their data also showed an uptick in theft (8%), theft on premises (11%), mysterious disappearance (5%) and liability (5%) on the holiday. The safety of trick-or-treaters roaming the streets at night is also a concern, and children are more than twice as likely to be struck and killed by a car on Halloween than on any other day, according Safe Kids Worldwide. To help counter these staggering statistics, the American Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (APCIA) recently released advice for keeping Halloween activities safe and claim-free. "With Halloween parties there are more cars on the road, kids in masks trick-or-treating throughout neighborhoods, and it's easy to forget about the increased potential for homeowners or auto insurance claims," said Karen Collins, APCIA assistant vice president for personal lines policy, said in a release. "There are simple steps that every homeowner and driver can take to help make it a safe and claim-free Halloween." These tips to avoid Halloween claims from APCIA include: |

• Cars should be parked in well-lit areas or inside of a garage. You should also ensure all vehicles are locked and any alarms are engaged.
• Drive slowly through neighborhoods where people are trick-or-treating, and watch for children who may be crossing the street or walking between cars.
• If you're receiving trick-or-treaters or other guests, make sure your Halloween décor is away from walkways and paths and that these areas are well-lit to avoid falls.
• If you're taking children trick-or-treating, travel in groups, wear costumes that are easily visible and carry flashlights. You should also make sure children can see properly out of their costumes.
• Keep an eye on pets when trick-or-treaters arrive, and don't allow aggressive dogs to rush the door.
• Don't leave candles burning in your jack-o-lanterns (or anywhere else) unattended or overnight, or where they can be knocked over by kids. The safest solution to lighting your spooky set-up is to use battery-operated candles.

In the slideshow above, we count down the safest cities for trick-or-treating according to ChamberOfCommerce.org.

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