More than five million (21 per cent) British households have suffered property damage as a result of Halloween and Bonfire Night – a period dubbed ‘mischief week’ – according to new research from Santander Home Insurance.
Brits have been left with a staggering £1.4 billion bill as a result of ‘mischief week’ in the past, equal to around £273 for each affected property.
The most common cause of damage, which has affected 2.5 million (10 per cent) British homes, is eggs being thrown. Around 1.5 million (6 per cent) households have also had their garden plants and fences damaged or removed. Property damage due to fireworks and sparklers (3 per cent), hosting a house party (2 per cent) and items posted through letter boxes (2 per cent) has also contributed to the nation’s colossal ‘mischief week’ repair bill.
An estimated 2 per cent of Britons – equivalent to almost a million people – have been attacked by people using fireworks as weapons.
Those living in Yorkshire and the Humber have suffered the most damage to their homes, with 15 per cent of residents in the region having fallen victim to vandalism in the past.
Richard Al-Dabbagh, Santander Insurance, said: “Halloween and Bonfire night should be about light-hearted family fun, but unfortunately this can often bring with it accidents and anti-social behavior. Much of the damage that occurs during mischief week is the result of seemingly harmless pranks like egg throwing, but the research also highlights an alarmingly high incidence of petty crime and threatening behavior.
“We would advise all homeowners to make sure that the main entrances to their homes are secure, and to make the property look occupied, even if it isn’t. For peace of mind and to minimise the inconvenience if any damage is caused, we also urge people to keep their property and possessions protected with comprehensive home insurance.”
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