In Your Uni Home
A student house or flat often contains many more possessions than an average family home with several occupants often having a laptop, gaming system, mp3 player & digital camera (and so on) each. As a result student houses are very desirable for burglars. By following these steps you can make your property less of a target.
If you are living in Halls of Residence
Close and lock windows & doors even if you’re only nipping out for a short time.
About 90% of burglaries in halls of residence are through insecure windows or doors, and many of them occur during the evening when students have returned from lectures, and leave their rooms unlocked/windows open when they go out of their rooms for short periods of time (e.g. to go to the kitchen, bathroom or a mate’s room).
Don’t leave anything on display particularly if you live on the ground floor
Think of your room as a tempting shop window - when you leave your room hide/lock things away, or shut curtains/use net curtains. If your desk is next to the window, particularly avoid leaving items (e.g. laptops) lying on the desk when you go out of the room: if someone can put their hand into the room they can grab it!
Don’t rely on access control systems on the main flat doors
Access controlled doors obviously only work if they are shut and are too often wedged open. Avoid letting people into the halls that you do not know, and avoid giving out the door codes to anyone.
Looking for accommodation in the private rented sector
Download a copy of the Housing Security Checklist and make sure you get advice from your Students’ Union or University Housing/Accommodation Services. Whatever you do, don’t rush into choosing a house to live in – there is plenty of accommodation out there.
If you are a student looking to live in the Birmingham or Wolverhampton areas you should also check out www.mlas-online.co.uk to see if your prospective landlord/letting agent is accredited.
If you are living in the private rented sector
- Don’t leave anything on display – particularly anything that can be seen from outside the house. Ask your landlord if you or they can put up net curtains particularly on the ground floor windows – but do wash them from time to time!
- If you have a side alleyway make sure that it is fitted with a secure locking gate which cannot be climbed over. Effective, working and properly used alleygates can greatly reduce the risk of burglary to the rear of your house. Ensure, though, that everyone who needs a key to use the gate has one in case you need to escape from fire.
- If you have a burglar alarm remember to set it when you go out.
- Get some timer switches to use on radios and lights, this will make it appear that you are in when you are not (at least two per household). You can get these from most DIY or electrical shops.
- Get to know the neighbours, particularly if they are full time residents, because if you are on good terms with them they are likely to look to out for your property whilst you are away during the vacation periods, and will get to know you should be visiting your house.
- If you are unhappy about the condition of your house, your Student’s Union advice centre will be able to help and advise you. You can report your house to your local council who will inspect it for a number of health and safety hazards and can enforce the landlord to improve the standards if necessary. West Midlands Fire service also offer a home fire risk assessment. For more information about both of these aspects please see www.homestamp.com.
No matter where you are living
- Ensure that you have suitable insurance.
- Take your valuables home during vacation periods. During term times most burglaries are committed through insecure doors and windows, and a burglar will prefer to use this method of entry as it is both quiet and quick. During the vacation, however, they are more prepared to use force to gain entry as there are far fewer people around to see or hear them.
- Remember that you can replace possessions but how do you replace your course work? Make sure that it is backed up and stored separately to your computer.
- Use an UV pen to mark your property with your postcode. We advise that you use a permanent residence (e.g. family home address) rather than a university residence as this may change quite frequently. Alternatively you can write the name of your university along with your student ID number.
Immobilise
You can also register your items for free on the national property database, Immobilise – you can register any item that has a serial number, e.g. mobile phones, mp3 players, and laptops – in fact any item with a serial number. You can also register pedal cycles. To register click on www.registermythings.co.uk.
