With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, police and emergency services predict it will make for a very busy night.

Last year, with Halloween on a Friday, E-Comm says they had an increase of 14 per cent in 911 calls compared to a typical Friday night in October. 

E-Comm released several tips on when to call 911, when the call can go to non-emergency police lines or when to use online crime reporting.

Regulations around fireworks vary by municipality so E-Comm says to check with your local bylaws before reporting. Reports should be made to bylaw services or the police non-emergency line. Only call 911 if there are fires, serious injuries or a public safety risk. 

Theft of Halloween decorations can happen throughout the night. If you find yours missing, but see no one around who may have committed the theft, E-Comm says to file a police report online or call the non-emergency line.

Halloween tends to bring on parties which might get noisy. If you need to report a noise complaint, contact the police non-emergency line. 

E-Comm says if you see a break-in or vandalism in progress you should call 911. 

When it comes to road safety, E-Comm wants to remind everyone to practice extra caution on the roads. There will be plenty of kids running around the streets and while it is highly encouraged to wear reflective gear on their costumes, kids are still unpredictable. Drive carefully in residential areas especially. 

Report dangerous driving behaviour and collisions where there are injuries to 911. Minor accidents with no injuries should be reported to ICBC.

Another way to stay safe is to always be aware of your location. If you do need to call 911 for an emergency, knowing the street you are on, the address you are at and landmarks or cross streets can help emergency services find you faster. 

The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) has said that they are increasing patrols, especially in the Granville Entertainment District, Gastown and other neighbourhoods across the city. About 80 extra officers will be out. 

The VPD says that replica weapons should be left at home and not taken out as part of a costume. They can prompt calls to emergency services if mistaken for a real weapon. A weapons call brings out a serious police response and the VPD would like to avoid unnecessary calls.