With the start of the new year and students retuning to, or just beginning their university journey, we wanted to share our tops on how to keep your belongings safe as student.
Between 2021 and 2022, 266,283 people reported burglaries, with theft happening up to every 13 minutes in some parts of the UK. According to new data, the areas with the most burglaries since 2021 are London, Manchester, West Midlands and West Yorkshire – so it is important to be particularly vigilant if you are going to university in one of these areas.
We have put together our top five tips for students, from how to protect the downstairs bedroom and how to manage parcels:
1. Protect The Downstairs Bedroom
Most shared houses have the ground floor living room converted into a bedroom. The window and front door give two entry points for a burglar, plus they have ease of seeing valuables on display. Whether it is your room or your housemates’, ensure both the window and the door are locked at all times, make sure valuables are hidden and close the curtains if there is nobody home.
2. Parcel Management
During lockdown alone, 5.5 million people reported a parcel stolen. Ensure all delivery companies have a safe place to store them if you aren’t home, or better still, be home on the agreed delivery date. Not only can the parcels be stolen, but leaving them outside makes burglars believe that nobody has been home in a while. Keep any post out of sight to make them think that somebody has collected it and is in the property.
3. Student Insurance
First and foremost, make sure the property and its contents are insured when you move in. Student insurance companies offer affordable rates and be the difference between receiving compensation for stolen items, or completely losing them and the value. If you are a fresher, check in with your halls to see if they have any policies in place. Most have a partner insurance company they would recommend you set up with.
4. Set Up Deterrents
Term times are fairly similar each year, meaning burglars can easily predict when students aren’t home across Christmas and Easter. Setting up deterrents is key to make people think that someone is home. Use timer plugs to switch lights on and off throughout the day, as well as radios and televisions to create sound throughout. You could also speak to your landlord about installing dummy alarms for extra reassurance.
5. Extra Security
If you have any concerns about the safety of your property – from window fittings to weak doors or damages, contact your landlord immediately. Doors can be reinforced with extra locks, ask for padlocks on any gates and make sure every member of the house is using any security in place correctly.
