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"Fri, May 01 2026, 15:50:38 GMT-4" [ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, [4] ]

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Date Posted: 07:43:55 12/08/04 Wed
Author: Una flannigan
Subject: Students told 'lock up' to beat festive burglars

Students told 'lock up' to beat festive burglars
Police issue warning after 200 are robbed

By Genevieve Roberts

08 December 2004 Belfast telegraph


Police today issued a "lock up before you leave" warning to students in Belfast before they headed off from their term-time accommodation for the Christmas holidays.

Students are the victims of more than one-third of burglaries in south Belfast, with 200 students victims of robberies since April this year.

Police want to reduce domestic burglaries through their 'House Safe' initiative, and want students to ensure that they have locked up their property before returning home.

Valuables including laptops, CD players and televisions should not be left in University accommodation over their Christmas break.

Burglaries in south Belfast have fallen by seven percent since last year, with 604 domestic burglaries in total since April this year.

But in order to reduce the number of break-ins further, the 'House Safe Student Forum' is sending students text message alerts and e-mails to address the problems of burglary.

Gail Haddock, PSNI Crime Prevention Officer, said: "Thousands of students live in south Belfast and every year new groups move in. Because student houses have multiple tenants, burglars can target student households primarily to maximise their gains with a minimum of effort."

She is telling students not to leave a gift for criminals this Christmas.

Professor Gerry McCormack, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Queen's University, said: "It is imperative that students follow the advice given. By taking heed of simple steps they can avoid becoming a victim of burglary."

Anne Monaghan, Community Relations Manager at the University of Ulster is strongly in support of the campaign.

"We are obviously concerned about the incidents of burglary affecting students in the privately rented sector," she said.

"We have e-mailed all students regarding house safety advice and will be distributing more information over the coming months."

The House Safe Student Forum was created in June 2004 by the PSNI, working in partnership with the Universities, the Landlords' Association, Victim Support and Student Unions from QUB, UUJ and Stranmillis.

The forum is targeting crime committed against students, and by students, including student 'yob culture'.

Officers have been patrolling the area in high visibility jackets and have made an unprecedented number of arrests and reports over the last months.

Dr Esmond Birnie of the Ulster Unionist Party accused students of disrespecting the area they live in last month, saying: "It is clear that a significant section of the student population have little or no concern for the areas or houses they live in and no respect for the residents who live there."

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