Keeping doors and windows locked
Making it less obvious that everyone's out of the house
Reporting a crime to the landlord
Students as victims of crime
Unfortunately, as a category students feature high up on the list of young people who are victims of crime. Statistics show that 50% of burglaries against student properties take place through an open door or window. In providing guidance it is difficult to strike the right balance between making students aware of crime while reassuring them it is rare. There are though many things that you can do to encourage your child to reduce their chances of being a victim of crime.
Keeping doors and windows locked
This doesn’t just mean the front door, but any internal doors and upstairs windows too. It might sound obvious, but so many burglaries could have been avoided by just turning a key.
Easy pickings
Laptops on desks, Ipods on windowsills and car keys in full view - such items are easy pickings for a burglar. Keep valuable items out of sight - put them in a drawer or cupboard, or hide them under the bed.
Marking property
Make sure your child marks their property (using a UV pen) with their house number, followed by the postcode (e.g. 155 LS2 3ED) of their parental address. This makes it harder for a burglar to sell stolen goods and can help the police return items to your address if your child moves accommodation.
Making it less obvious that everyone's out of the house
Your child should be encouraged to leave a light or radio on and draw the curtains when they go out in order to give the impression that someone’s in. You could buy them a timer switch as a leaving home present! Students often make it very obvious to burglars that the house will soon be empty when ordering taxis for everyone and standing in the garden or street waiting. You should advise your child to ask for taxis not to arrive at the same time and to wait indoors to avoid unwanted attention.
Getting insured
Many Unipol tenants have free personal possessions insurance with their accommodation but your child needs to check this and make sure they register items (such as their laptop) and enquire about any additional items not included (such as their bike). Ask your child to keep lists of the make, model and serial numbers of electronic items to help police track them down if they are stolen.
Using burglar alarms
If their property has a burglar alarm, encourage your child to use it. Let them know that they can contact their landlord for help if they are unfamiliar with the alarm's operation.
Reporting a crime to the landlord
If your child is a victim of a crime involving their accommodation, it is important they report it to their landlord so that they can make any necessary repairs.
Further advice
For further advice, your child should read the following websites - and regularly refresh their knowledge:
Knowledge Leeds provides students in Leeds with practical advice about safety and crime prevention. The advice is written by Leeds University Union and Leeds Beckett University Students' Union with contributions from the police and other agencies.
West Yorkshire Police contains a ‘students’ link to details about how to report a crime.