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Consumers urged to be cautious as British Summertime ends
Posted by Mark Cunningham
As British Summertime comes to an end on October 31st at 02:00 BST, moving to 01:00 GMT, consumers have been urged to be increasingly vigilant regarding their properties, as November 5th is statistically the worst night of the year with regards to thefts and burglaries.
According to Aviva, thefts increase by five per cent in line with longer nights, while Halloween itself sees a 150 per cent rise in malicious damage claims relating to the home.
These include smashed windows, broken doors, vandalism to cars - affecting windscreens, wing mirrors and aerials - and damage to gardens, with wheelie bin fires, plant pots smashed and garden walls knocked down.
And where Bonfire Night is concerned, a 28 per cent rise in burglaries and a jump of 25 per cent in terms of motor thefts is also seen.
"Plenty of homeowners are out enjoying parties so cars are left unattended and homes empty. Of course the additional noise means any suspicious sounds, like smashed windows, aren't heard," said property claims director Rob Townend.
22/10/2010 12:29
News category: Consumer