Issue 158

Thefts in Hendrefoelan student village

22nd October 2007

Hendrefoelan have been advised to look after their valuables and lock their windows and doors after three laptops were stolen from the student village.

Every year thefts occur after students don't lock their doors or let strangers into their house due to the communal nature of the village. Thefts reoccur due to the student area being such an easy target, due to easy access and the amount of expensive equipment every student brings with them including televisions, stereos, and laptops.

The SU's Welfare Officer Nick Morgan warns that students, "need to be aware of security and keeping front doors locked and windows shut. It is easy for someone to walk into a student house and be taken for a friend or a flatmate, so doors should be locked at all times".

Nick Morgan highlighted why its so vital that items such as laptops are secure and away from thieves, not only are laptops expensive but they, "can also contain essays and coursework which can be hard to replace and can therefore affect a student's grade."

Student Union President Owen Morgan saw first-hand how easy it is on Tuesday 16 October, when he patrolled Hendrefoelan with the local police and managed to break into several houses and flats with little or no difficultly, and despite wearing high visibility jackets were not approached by students to ask what they were doing.

Morgan commented on how he could have stolen hundreds of pounds worth of stuff including laptops, ipods, wallets and watches. Owen Morgan and the police used flyers in the shape of hands and placed them on the items they could have potentially stolen, showing students just how easy it is.

Owen Morgan commented, "It's not a huge operation, it can take 30 seconds to rob a room." As well as entering the houses and confronting students with the issue he also saw mail in letterboxes which could have easily been stolen, some of which included bank statements and cheque books, highlighting how easy identity theft can be.

Owen Morgan advises students that, "whether you live in a flat, a house, upstairs or downstairs, it's your responsibility to lock doors, even if you are just going to the Spar, be safe".

Students are advised to be cautious and aware, regardless of where they live as it's easy to become a target of theft.

Eleni Cashell