A police force has asked people ‘your wheelie bins out of reach’ this Halloween (Pic: Getty)

A police force has issued advice on how to prevent anti-social behaviour this Halloween.

Most people celebrate the annual holiday peacefully by dressing up as monsters, attending parties and trick or treating. 

But some real-life ghouls often ruin it for everyone when they get involved in bad behaviour, including vandalism and theft. 

Merseyside Police has issued some advice to help stop anti-social behaviour on the weekend before Halloween and Bonfire Night on 5 November. 

Inspector Morgan says: ‘A lot of antisocial behaviour isn’t planned in advance –  it’s opportunistic. 

‘Don’t give them the opportunity. Get your wheelie bins out of reach and, if you can, out of sight.  

‘The same goes for garden furniture and ornaments.

‘If you’ve got gates, keep them closed. It creates a psychological barrier, as well as a physical one.

‘If you can, put your car in the garage rather than leaving it on the drive or on the street.

Halloween falls on Monday this year (Pic: Getty Images)

‘Vandals and burglars won’t choose to target well-lit areas if there are easy alternatives. Keep your lights on. If you’re out, put them on a timer. 

‘Maybe get a motion sensor flood light. Keep your home security cameras on and visible if you’ve got them.’

He adds: ‘If you’re not comfortable answering the door, maybe think about putting out a tub of sweets and a sign for your door.’

Malicious damage insurance claims tend to jump around Halloween and Bonfire Night.

According to insurer Aviva’s home claims data covering the past five years, malicious damage claims increased by 21% during the months of October and November, compared with the monthly average.

Home theft claims were also found to rise by 23% during the same months, with thieves taking advantage of the darker evenings.

Claims around Halloween include broken doors, smashed windows and damage caused by people throwing fireworks.

Customers sometimes refer to trick or treaters when reporting their claims, the insurer said.

Previous Aviva research has also indicated that fire claims can spike around Bonfire Night on November 5.

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A police force has issued advice on how to prevent anti-social behaviour this Halloween.