Candy, Costumes, Crime

Do crime rates actually spike on Halloween?

Candy%2C+Costumes%2C+Crime

With the nearing of Halloween, everyone is getting ready for their favorite chocolate-y treats, scary decorations, fun costumes, and … crime? It has long been wondered by the public whether criminal activity truly does increase on Halloween. Is it just a myth? Another spooky story? While that’s what most people would like to believe, it is, unfortunately, not the case. 

 

This is greatly due to increased alcohol consumption. In fact, this occurs on most holidays involving excessive amounts of alcohol, including New Year’s, the Fourth of July, and even Christmas. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that on Halloween nights from the years 2009-2013, more than 40% of vehicle-caused deaths resulted from drunk driving. 

 

“I’m not surprised,” Jacob DeWese (‘24) said, “the same things happen in the city that won a major sports competition.”

 

However, the most prominent type of crime that increases on Halloween will likely come as no surprise: property crime. This includes theft, breaking and entering, and vandalism (as most would expect from the spooky season traditions of egging and TP-ing). 

 

“I had no idea,” Jomana Shenouda (‘24) said, “I don’t find this information surprising but it’s something that I didn’t really think about before, and in a way I understand the logic behind it. This information gave me a warning about staying safe on Halloween.” 

 

So, what can be done? Whether you are leaving the house for some trick-or-treating or a petrifying party, leave your lights on, try to keep your valuables out of sight, make sure to lock your doors and windows, and don’t post on social media about your away-from-home plans until you are back. 

 

Halloween is a fun occasion for  most high schoolers to dress up, watch scary movies, and binge on delicious sweets. Let’s make it even better with some spells, skeletons, and safety.