General Advice

 

Going to University?

Heading off the university? You got a few weeks to get your belongings sorted.

And we've got some extra advice will help you stay and feel a little safer...

Electrical equipment
If you are taking a TV, a video or even your computer it makes sense to invest in an ultra-violet marker pen now. You can invisibly mark your electrical goods. Just remember you are likely to move house a couple of times while you are at university, so think about putting your parents postcode on your valuables.
Read more about marking your property and security advice for your electrical goods.

Sharing your home
It's more than likely that you will be living in shared accommodation. Try to limit the amount of jewellery or electrical equipment kept on view in your room and don't let anyone passing your door see into your room or flat. Always lock your door when you go out.
We've got more advice for people living in shared accommodation.

Insurance
Home insurance for students is not that expensive, and your parents might be able to add you on to their own home insurance policy. But if you do get your own, remember you only need insurance for your contents and be realistic about the amount of cover you need. Think carefully about all your valuables and if it helps write a list of everything you are taking and how much it is all worth.
More advice on home insurance.

Your mobile phone
A mobile phone helps keep you in touch with your friends, new and old, and is your link home. There are likely to be lots of deals you can take advantage of at your university Freshers Fair if you don't have one already. But keeping it safe is extremely important. Treat your mobile as though you are holding a £100 note.
We've got more advice on keeping your mobile phone safe.

Your car
If you are taking your car with you to university, make sure you read through our Your Car section which is crammed with advice. You don't have to spend a fortune to get that added peace of mind.

Property marking

If there's one way of making sure someone knows that something belongs to you, it's putting your name on it.

Why not take that one step further in the home?

Marking your property is one of the most simple and effective ways of protecting your possessions.
For a start, property marking puts burglars off because it let's others know that the item has been stolen, making it much more difficult to sell on. The other big advantage is that it makes tracing and returning your stolen property a lot easier for police.

The Metropolitan police say that there are two main types of property marking: the first is known as permanent marking, when you engrave or "punch" your property with your street number and postcode. Inexpensive permanent marketing kits can be bought from most DIY stores.

Make sure you engrave with a fine drill or sharp-pointed tool, and use a template or stencil to keep it neat and tidy. Punching is a form of permanent marking that is done with a hammer and a set of punches bearing numbers and letters. This method is good for bicycles, mowers, engines or other sturdy metal objects, but don't use this on aluminium as it's easily damaged. Of course, you could just improvise and scratch your postcode on it with a sharp object, depending on how happy you expect to be with the final appearance.

Invisible protection
Invisible marking is the other method of property marking. This is best for antiques or valuable property that would lose value if spoiled by permanent marking. Police usually check stolen property with a special ultra-violet lamp, so an ultra-violet (UV) marker pen should be used. Just as for permanent marking, use your postcode and mark again if you move house. The police also say that it is important to remember that UV marking fades and will need to be renewed every so often.

Most police forces run schemes that let you borrow an UV or ceramic marker, and you can buy them at most DIY stores. However, in some cases, chemicals can be used to remove invisible marking, and as it fades quickly, you should remember to regularly update your markings.

Although you can't see it with the naked eye, invisible marking can still be a deterrent to burglars, but you must let them know you've done it by using stickers from the police saying, "property in this home has been marked". Contact your local police for more details about this.

When it comes to deciding which items to mark, the answer is "up to you". Think about what you value most and what might be attractive to thieves. The truth is almost anything can be a target for theft, so why not mark everything?

It's worth keeping a property list or inventory of all your household possessions, and be sure to mark the things that you own as you compile your list, including items kept in your shed or garage.

Finally, where your property is marked is important, especially if engraving or punching. The chances are you'll want to keep the mark out of site, so try marking underneath or around the back of the item. The most important thing to remember is to choose a surface that can't be removed without spoiling the basic appearance or performance of the item. If thieves can't remove your mark without breaking your property, then it's worthless and they probably won't want it.

Electrical equipment

Electrical equipment such as video recorders, personal computers and DVD players are things that thieves can find easy to steal.

Follow our useful tips and advice and you can reduce the risk of losing your TV to burglars.

Quick tip:
For about £1 you can buy an ultra-violet pen to write you postcode on your electrical goods and valuables, such as your TV. It's almost invisible to the naked eye, but the police can see it with a special lamp.

One thing you can do to help prevent this kind of crime is refuse any "too good to be true" offers in the local pub, second hand store or at a car boot sale. Be wary and keep an eye open for marked property, and if you suspect anyone is trading in stolen goods report it to the police. Of course, if you don't want to identify yourself when reporting an incident or sighting, simply call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

But if you don't want your property to end up being sold off cheaply in the local pub, there are a number of things you can do to protect it.

Try to prevent people from seeing into your home because there's no point advertising the things you own to just anyone. And draw your curtains at night, but not during the day as this makes it look like you're out. Venetian or vertical blinds are good as these can be positioned to allow light in to your home but restrict viewing from the outside.

Also, think about buying "lock down" devices for your personal computer, which fix your PC to the wall, floor or desk using a security cable or plate. Remember to regularly back-up important data held on your computer. It's bad enough having your PC stolen without losing all the information held on it. You can also buy lock down plates for video recorders, DVD players and TVs, although these can be more difficult to get hold of and might restrict your options if you need to spring clean! And they may only fix your items to the stand or cabinet, they'll put off all but the most determined of thieves.

Some brands of electrical goods even have built-in security devices, such as video recorders with PIN numbers that prevent others using them. So browse round the shops before making your choice. Check what other security devices are available at your local DIY or computer store and don't forget property marking is vital for all electrical equipment.

If these options sound a little bit too expensive, maybe you could get yourself an ultra-violet marker pen. You write your postcode on your valuables, but it's almost invisible to the naked eye. But the police can see the writing with a special lamp. The pens only cost about £1. You can find out more about property marking by selecting this link.

Shared accommodation

Whether your home is in a block of flats, student halls or hostel, it's still your castle.

And we've got some special crime prevention advice for you.

If a door telephone entry system is installed don't "buzz" open the door for strangers or hold the door open for someone who is arriving as you are leaving.

Make sure your doors and locks are up to standard and in a good state of repair. Peephole viewers that let you see into the corridor, and a chain on your door are essential security measures.

Be aware of strangers or any suspicious activity in the entrances and corridors of your building. Don't be afraid to report them to the police.

Try to limit the amount of jewellery or electrical equipment kept in your room and don't let anyone passing your door see into your room or flat.

Working together with other occupants to form a neighbourhood watch or a tenant's association can be very helpful. As a group you'll be able to represent yourselves more effectively with your landlord or local authority - useful if you want better doors, windows or other security measures installed.

Be aware that local authorities are now equally responsible for preventing crime in the community. They must consult with local residents on issues of crime every three years. By forming a local watch group or tenants association you stand a better chance of getting the issues that concern you on the police and council agenda.

As a group, work to keep your local environment tidy and free from graffiti - remember to ask the police and council for help with this. Often the crime rate is lower when an area looks well maintained and tidy.

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