Personal safety and crime prevention

In the words of Sergeant Jake Flanagan, the student crime reduction officer for West Midlands Police,

"Unfortunately, the chances of a student being burgled in the private rented sector is higher than when they were living in university accommodation."

"Every year burglary rates peak in the first academic term, so while September might seem a long way off, it is important that students consider security now so they can be protected later."

Students are

  • 3 times more likely to be a victim of crime;
  • 3 times more likely to experience a burglary than in a non-academic area;
  • At the highest risk of experiencing violent crime, compared to any other occupational classification.

Whether it's when walking around (more likely to have items like iPods) or at home (student houses often have six laptops, six MP3 players, and lots of DVDs – all small and easy to steal) students need to be vigilant at all times. To see what happens if you aren't, see this video of someone breaking into an on-campus room.

If it's not an emergency, who do I contact in the police?
If there is an emergency (i.e. a crime is in progress, or someone's life is in danger) then always phone 999 (unless you're on campus, in which case call the Gatehouse by 22222).

If you want to report a crime, but you don't want to call the police, then contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 (or fill out a form on their website) – you may be eligible for a reward.

If the matter is urgent but not an emergency, then you should probably call your local police department. The area Warwick students live in straddles two police regions (and, in fact, two counties): Warwickshire Police, and West Midlands Police. Even on campus, you are in a different policing region depending on which side of Gibbet Hill Road you live on.
Police force Area: campus Area: off-campus Contact number
West Midlands Police Arthur Vick, Benefactors, Claycroft, Jack Martin, Rootes, Tocil, Westwood, Whitefields Coventry 0845 113 5000
Warwickshire Police Hurst, Redfern, Lakeside, Heronbank, Cryfield Leamington and Kenilworth 01926 415 000

Warwickshire Police have produced a good PDF detailing who to contact in a situation. You can, alternatively, contact your local police officers.
Who are my local police officers?
Campus

Regardless of which police ward you are in, all of campus has one beat officer (with a buggy!) - PC8532 Mick Parkes (part of West Midlands Police).

Canley neighbourhood team (West Midlands Police)

PC's number: 07757852604
PCSO's number: 07722880594
General contact e-mail: canley@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk
Student liasion officer: PC6489 Rich Hobbs

Earlsdon neighbourhood team (West Midlands Police)

TBC

Leamington Safer Neighbourhood Teams (Warwickshire Police)

South

General contact number: 01926 68 4017
General contact e-mail: click here
PC mobile numbers: 07881 836 414, 07979 276 788, 07881 836 415

North

General contact number: 01926 684263
General contact e-mail: click here
What protection should my house have built-in?
There are a few basics you should have to make sure your house isn't any more at risk from burglary than it needs to be. West Midlands Police have produced a security checklist for private-sector houses (click here to view) as part of their Safer Students website. If your property is accredited, it should satisfy most (if not all) of these.

Here are a few headlines:

Locks

At the very least, your house should have a five-lever mortice lock on external doors, and lockable ground-floor windows. It is advisable to also have a deadlock night latch on your external doors.

Outside your property

If there is access to the rear of the property via a side alleyway, you should have a lockable side-gate (Ideally steel railed). There should be high fencing (with no breaks or gaps) around back garden, and the front of your property should be visible from the street (i.e. not blocked by shrubs/fencing)

Repair and fittings

Your door frame should show no signs of damp or heavy wear (or it may be easier to kick in). Ground-floor windows should have net curtains fitted, so thieves can't see any goods on show.

Housing safety

Check out our Housing Safety page for more information around the dangers of fire, electricity, and gas.
Is there anything I can do to avoid getting my house burgled?
Student flats or residences are often chock-a-block with CDs, DVDs, phones and other expensive items. Criminals know this and are on a constant look-out for desirable targets.

Being security-conscious isn't really isn't that difficult — there are a few simple steps you can take to drastically reduce the risk of your property being burgled.
  • Don't make it easy for them. Close all windows, and lock all the doors, when you are leaving the house. Don't assume someone else will do it, and don't avoid doing it because you think that some people may still be at home. Always lock the door when you leave the house!
  • Don't leave valuables on show. Keep it hidden to keep it safe.
  • If you have a burglar alarm: USE IT!
  • Make sure the house has a smoke alarm; all accredited properties must have a minimum of a 10 year smoke detector in the hall and landing.
  • Safe-guard your belongings for if they get stolen: mark your belongings with SmartWater; register your valuables on Immobilise
  • Know who is coming in and out of your house - common sense, but accidentally letting in thieves is a surprisingly large cause of student-targetted crime!
How can I protect my stuff if it does get stolen?
SmartWater is a colourless liquid solution that is dabbed onto the uneven surfaces of valuables. It can be used to code all sorts of items such as jewellery, ornaments, electrical items and even motor vehicles. Each bottle contains a unique chemical ‘code’ which is registered to a named individual at an address – conclusively proving ownership. It cannot be easily seen by the naked eye and is almost impossible to remove. The liquid glows under ultraviolet light making it easy for the police to detect. It is used in undercover operations to catch and convict criminals.

Criminals know about SmartWater’s power to forensically link them with the scene of a crime –so, by coding your valuables and displaying the SmartWater deterrent signs, you are sending out a powerful warning to any thieves and burglars operating in your area. To date and nationally, a home displaying the SmartWater symbol is yet to be burgled.

Normally the kits retail at around £50, but they are available for free to students living in south Leamington Spa, and can be obtained by contacting the local police team via their website, or by contacting PCSO 6163 Stephen Nyirongo (either by e-mail, or by phone on 01926 451111 Ext 4246).

Immobilise is the UK’s national property register. If your stuff gets lost or stolen, Immobilise will help the police, your insurer, and second-hand traders to recover your property and hopefully catch the thief. What’s more, it’s completely free! Register your valuables at www.immobilise.com.
How can I protect my house best over the holidays?
When you leave your house at the end of the first term, follow these five simple steps to minimise the risk of you becoming a victim:
 
  1. Don't leave any valuables in an unoccupied house/room - take them home with you. If you have to leave valuables behind, then try to hide them away if possible - under the bed, in a drawer, or on top of a cupboard.
  2. If there is a clause in your contract asking you to drain the pipes if leaving the house unattended, then you should probably do it (or, if the pipes burst, you may be liable for the cost).
  3. Use some timer-switches so that lights, radios etc. will switch on and off from time to time.
  4. Make sure that the last person to leave the property locks up completely and activates the alarm if you have one.
  5. Ask a landlord to come around and check on the house regularly, and tell your neighbours that you're away. Ask them to keep an eye on the house and push any post through the letterbox to hide any build-up.
I'm worried about my bike being stolen...?
Bike marking is when a bike is given an identifiable marker, with both campus security and the local police station will hold the identifying details of your bike. A lot of the bikes that get stolen on campus do get found by campus security or the local police; your bike being marked and registered means it's a lot higher chance of them being able to reunite you with your bike, should it be recovered.

Bike registration of this sort often costs a fee (normally around £11.95) but occasionally the campus PC Mick Parkes will do free bike marking around campus.
What can I do to be safe walking around at night?
Don't flash your valuables when you're walking around.

Know your area: in NUS' recent student crime survey, only 39% of new students had done any research on the local area surrounding their university or college. If you've just moved into an area, get a map (or use Google Maps) to familiarise yourself with a route home from all the places you could be late at night. If you get lost, ask in local shops for directions instead of guessing.

Plan your journeys: if you are going out, make sure you tell a friend; don’t take short cuts; only use licensed taxis; don't walk around outside alone.

Don't go it alone: it is always a good idea to try and stick with friends, particularly at night. Simple things such as waiting for your friend who is getting cash out, ensuring you don't leave people behind on a night out, and using taxi services can help to significantly reduce the threat of crime.

Avoid dark places: try to only use cash points that are in well-lit areas; don't walk around dark areas with your MP3 player on full-blast, as you will be less aware of your surroundings.

Useful links
The Lock — the NUS' crime-fighting page.

How you can prevent crime — page on the Home Office website