When Thieves Go Window Shopping: A Guide to Student Security

Fri 27 Jun 2014 admin

It’s summer, and A level students are pouring out of schools and colleges across the UK. For those heading to university, this could be their final summer of freedom. But when summer winds up and Freshers’ Week begins, they’ll receive a barrage of counsel from concerned parents and earnest lecturers alike. It’s true that your bedding needs to be washed, and it’s important that you buy the requisite textbooks (even if they bankrupt you), but one freshers fundamental that often falls by the wayside is home security.

The National Union of Students (NUS) recently estimated that 90% of student burglaries are caused by insecure doors and windows. A large proportion of these burglaries are entirely avoidable, and so we have put together this cheap and easy guide to house security.

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The facts

Student houses and halls of residence are often located in high-crime areas. Whilst this makes rent more affordable, it means students are targets for opportunistic burglars – with a startling one in three students falling victim to crime during their time at university. Student houses are easy targets for the following reasons:

How can students deter theft?

Choose carefully: If you haven’t already chosen your accommodation, opt for a place with sturdy locks, doors and windows. Deadbolts and Yale-style nightlatches (the kind that automatically lock when the door is closed – see picture below) provide an extra layer of security. Double-glazed PVCU windows and doors provide the best security, but if doors or windows are wooden then check for rot and loose fittings.

Make a pact: Twice as many private renters fall victim to burglary as those in halls, so make a pact with housemates to ensure that everyone is on board. It only takes one sloppy housemate to leave your house open to thieves.

Lock up: Thieves rely on students being careless, with propped-open windows and unlocked back doors providing the simplest routes of entry for spur-of-the-moment burglaries. For this reason, it is important to keep windows and doors locked at all times unless absolutely necessary for ventilation.

Cover it up: The simplest and cheapest precaution is ensuring windows are kept covered by curtains or blinds when rooms are not in use. By preventing would-be thieves from being able to see into the house, “chancers” will be unable to see valuables on display. Ensure small items such as cash and car keys are kept in a designated safe place.

latch

Insurance: The average cost of a student burglary is £900. Insurance is a cheaper alternative. At the very least, consider cover for big-ticket items such as bikes, laptops and TVs.

UV pens and serial numbers: Use an ultraviolet pen to mark your stuff with your address. Most student unions stock them but they’re often given out for free at Freshers’ Week, so keep an eye out for the police stall. Keep note of the makes, models and serial numbers of your valuables so that police can return them to you in the unlikely event that they are recovered.

Safety first: If you suspect a break-in, stay out of the house and call the police. If burglary is obvious – for example a broken window – then 999 should be used in case the offender is still on the scene. If you are unsure, call the 101 non-emergency number and ask for advice.

Home for the holidays: If you can’t take valuables with you during the Christmas, Easter and summer holidays, arrange for them to be held in secure storage (simply do an online search for ‘online student storage’) or leave them with a friend.

Recommended reading:

Interview with a former burglar on what makes a house vulnerable

NUS advice on securing your property


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