Do

Don’t

• put a sign up at the front of your house saying "no trick or treaters"; if you don't want people coming to your door over Halloween. You can download a 'no trick or treat' poster from the MET police website.

• lock all your doors and windows before you go out. Pay particular attention to the back of your premises - a popular entry point for burglars.

• keep your shed and/or garage doors locked. If your garage has a door which goes directly into your house, make sure that is locked too.

• close your curtains and leave a light on in the room (not the hall) when you are out for the evening

• masking tape your letter box shut if you are worried about fireworks being put through your letter box

• leave combustible materials such as paper for recycling or washing outside your home

• leave door keys in hiding places such as under a door mat; thieves know all the hiding places

• leave a window open a few inches for the cat to get in or out; burglars find this very useful too

• leave ladders around; if you must leave them outside make sure they are padlocked to something secure