Don't be a Hallowe'en insurance victim

Hallowe'en is meant to be a bit of harmless fun, yet, according to insurance claims, it is the worst day of the year for malicious damage to your home.

Ten years of data from Aviva show a rise of 150pc in home damage claims, with damage to cars and car thefts rising by 50pc and 20pc respectively in the week between Hallowe'en and Bonfire Night.

Figures also show a 28pc increase in burglary claims on Guy Fawkes Night, making it the worst night of the year for break-ins.

Research conducted by the insurer found that the period October 30 to November 5 last year saw the number of reported burglaries rise by 26pc when compared with the weekly average for the rest of the year.

The combination of darker nights and a mischievous occasion such as Hallowe'en, or a noisy one such as Bonfire Night, presents an opportunity that is too good for criminals to resist – leaving homes and vehicles more at risk than any other time in the year.

The steepest rise in burglaries were in Strathclyde and Northamptonshire, where police saw increases of 57pc and 53pc respectively.

Rob Townend, property claims director at Aviva, said: "Shorter days present more opportunities for criminals to work under cover of darkness. On Bonfire Night in particular, many people are out of the house at public displays or at parties and the noise of fireworks provides a distraction and means that suspicious sounds such as smashing glass aren't heard."

Mr Townend said that theft and malicious damage are covered as standard by your home insurance if the worst does happen, but it is best to take steps to avoid having the worry of being a victim of crime in the first place.

While it may seem obvious, households should ensure that they lock their doors and windows, figures suggest otherwise. The Metropolitan Police said that more than 5,000 people were burgled last year because they did not lock their front doors. They said that most burglars are opportunistic – they look for an easy way to get in that will not take long or arouse suspicion, so many try the front door first.

Never leave a spare key concealed anywhere near the front door as thieves know hiding places. Similarly, prevent letterbox burglaries by storing keys away from the front door.

A building that presents itself as unoccupied and insecure is far more likely to be targeted than one which is properly secured, so if you are going out after dark, draw the curtains and leave some lights on.

When it comes to fireworks on Bonfire Night, bear in mind that letting off explosives in the dark close to valuable property in an increasingly litigious society is a risky activity. So it makes sense to consider who will pick up the bill if something goes wrong. Few of us read every page of the small print in our household insurance policies, but it is well worth checking that your plan covers personal liability claims, as householders can be held legally responsible if any of their guests or a neighbour is injured, or their property is damaged by a firework or bonfire.

However, check your household policy for a "duty of care" clause. If you do need to make a claim, some insurers may raise this aspect of the contract, and policyholders will need to prove they took proper precautions.

Claims may be affected, for instance, if a bonfire was built too close to the home. All fires should be at least 60ft away from houses, trees, hedges, fences and sheds.

You should also make sure you know exactly what the cover limits are on your policy. For example, Direct Line has an automatic cover level of £1m on its buildings policies. Any damage to a neighbour's property would be initially covered by his or her insurance, but if the neighbour could show that you had been negligent in causing the damage, Direct Line's liability cover would protect you up to the value of £2m.

Esure's home insurance includes £2m of cover for personal liability in every contents policy. Its buildings insurance will cover damage to outbuildings – such as sheds and summer houses – if your bonfire gets out of control, for example. Contents are covered up to £2,500.

Esure's home contents policies cover all garden contents up to a maximum £1,000 – so, should your garden furniture go up in flames if a gust of wind causes you to lose control of your bonfire, you would be covered.