Student Crime Prevention Tips
Download our Student Crime Prevention Tips (PDF 33kb).
Print out and stick on your wall for a quick one-stop-shop overview with crime prevention tips, personal safety advice and some really useful contact details.
Advice on downloading PDFs
Be Safe, Be Secure - Burglary
- Keep your doors and windows locked when you go out
- Mark your property with your University and Student Number
- Don’t leave cash and valuables on display in your room
- Leave a light or radio on when you go out, to give the impression someone is in - maybe use a timer switch.
- Make sure your mobile is with you all the time, but don’t have it on display
Personal Safety
- Avoid walking alone after dark.
- Keep to busy, well lit roads and try to look confident even if you don’t feel it.
- If you think you are being followed, cross the road and keep walking. If it continues head for a busy area or lighted house to ask for help.
- Get a personal attack alarm and carry it in your hand.
- Carry your bag close to you with the fastening next to your body, but if someone tries to get it, let it go.
- Keep your house keys in your pocket for easy access.
- When you go out, tell people what time you expect to arrive home.
- When out at night, get a taxi or someone you trust to take you home.
- Always sit in the back of the taxi.
- Don't be tempted to hitch a ride or accept a lift from someone you don’t know.
Mobile Phone Safety
- Only make essential calls in the street. Using a mobile phone in a busy area advertises the fact that you have a piece of valuable property and while talking on the phone you are distracted and not aware of who might be watching you or who might be a potential thief. Use them out of public view and somewhere where you can see what it happening around you.
- Many mobile phones are stolen in places like pubs and nightclubs when they are left on a bar, table or on a nearby seat. Open handbags also prove tempting for thieves, as do carried rucksacks, coats left hanging on chairs and phones left unattended in vehicles and other places.
- Security mark your phone with a postcode and house number using an ultra-violet pen. The best place is underneath the battery near to the SIM card and on the back of the battery.
1) The phone number unique to the SIM card.
2) The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number which is unique to the phone handset.
Currently when police take crime reports the SIM card number is recorded only. The victim then contacts their phone network provider. The policy is then to send a blocking signal out to the SIM card rendering it useless. Criminals have picked up on this and they discard the SIM card straightaway after stealing the phone. They are then left with a handset that can be sold on in a pub or to a local dealer who then only has to buy a legitimate SIM card and the phone is once again operational with no way of detection.
However it is possible for any person to find out the IMEI number of a handset by putting the following code into the phone *#06# (star, hash, zero, six, hash). This means that if Police were to record the IMEI number then we would have a chance of detecting persons using stolen handsets.
Police are now urging mobile phone users to key in the *#06# number and record their IMEI number so in the event of the phone being stolen the police have a chance of arresting a person who may subsequently use the handset. IMEI numbers will now be recorded by the Police and checked against suspected stolen mobile phones. Also see : The Government's new Mobile Phone Crime website : www.immobilise.com (external link).
Read our external links disclaimer.
Car Safety
- Always lock your vehicle - never leave a car door unlocked or a window or sunroof open even when just going into a shop for a moment or two.
- Always try to park in a well-lit, open location.
- Don’t leave any valuables in your car and never leave items on display – lock them in the boot.
- Don’t leave credit cards or cheque books in the glove compartment. 1 in 5 stolen cheque and credit cards are taken from cars.
- Never leave your vehicle documents in the car – they could help a thief to sell it.
- Security mark your stereo and if it’s removable, always take it with you. Make a note of the serial number and keep it in a safe place.
Student Fire Safety Advice
- Download special safety advice for students issued by West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (PDF file 48kb).
- Download special safety advice for students issued by West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service (PDF file 100kb).
Read advice on downloading PDFs.
- For more help and advice, visit the fire service website - www.westyorksfire.gov.uk.
Read our external links disclaimer
False Reporting Campaign
- Hundreds of hours of police time are being wasted and genuine crime victims are suffering, as a result of people falsely claiming to be victims of crime.
- Mobile phones are a major problem, where someone wishing to upgrade to a better model reports their phone stolen to obtain a crime number and make an insurance claim.
- Anyone making false crime reports will be prosecuted and could face a fixed penalty fine.
Drink Spiking
- Never accept a drink from someone you don't know
- Use a specially adapted cover for your glass or bottle
- Never leave your drink unattended
- Plan your night out if you can
- Appoint a drink watcher if you go to the toilet or off for a dance.
- Remember alcohol affects your reactions; you'll be less alert.
- Don't feel that soft drinks aren't spiked…they are!
- If you think for one moment that your drink has been tampered with, don't take a chance. Get another one.
- And remember, males also fall victim to this type of offence.
Cannabis is still Illegal
Despite what some people say, cannabis is still an illegal drug.
- If you are caught in possession of it, or are dealing it to your mates - you could be arrested.
- This could lead to you placed in a cell and a possible court appearance, as well as a conviction which could affect your future employment prospects
- There are also the well documented health risks, physical and psychological hazards, mental health issues and the long-term risk of lung cancer.
- If you need help kicking the habit, see the "getting help" section on www.talktofrank.com.
Contacting the Police
In an EMERGENCY
Telephone 999 only in an emergency where there is a danger to life, or a crime is in progress.Non-Emergency
Telephone 0845 6060606 for non-emergencies where:- Police attendance is required
- To report a crime
- To report other incidents
- Help/Advice
- Advice
- Administrative enquiries
- Crime update information
Go to the 'Local Policing' pages for Help Desk and other police numbers.
Did You Know?
You can also check policing and safety information for the area where you live by inserting your postcode into our Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) website. We encourage you to sign up for free regular updates via email from your local policing team - more details on the site. Check out the local policing NPT Website
More Help?
There is further information on Student Safety on this website produced by the Home Office specifically for Students - 'Good2BSecure - www.good2bsecure.co.uk - or check out our own Crime Prevention pages, or take a look at our Student LinksRead our external links disclaimer
Disclaimer
Please note that by accessing external links above you will be leaving the West Yorkshire Police website. We are not responsible for the quality, accuracy or content of external websites.
Have You Won a Wii?
Did you complete our eSurvey to help us improve the help and advice we give to students?
Congratulations to Zoe!
Congratulations to Zoe Dunphy, of Pontefract New College, winner of our annual student safety promotion. Zoe was presented with a fabulous Ninteno Wii. Runner-up prizes were also awarded to other students.
Thanks to all for taking part - look out for another competition next year or consider entering our YouTube video competition.
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