The head of policing in the centre of Nottingham has issued a 'common sense' message to students over preventing break-ins at their new homes. Inspector Ben Lawrence, the newly appointed head of the City Central district, has outlined his aims and priorities after taking up the job of overseeing Berridge, Radford & Park, Hyson Green & Arboretum and Wollaton East & Lenton Abbey in September.
Inspector Lawrence indicated his team’s priorities would remain tackling serious violence, antisocial behaviour and burglary. He has now given a warning to students on the important steps they need to take to avoid becoming a victim of opportunistic thieves.
"In the Lenton Triangle we had a spike in burglaries when the students came back but we locked up four or five burglars and noticed the problem has now died off," Inspector Lawrence said.
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"Most robbers are just opportunists so that is the message I am trying to get across to students, who mostly have not lived alone before. If you just forget to close a window or lock a door, coming back from a night out your valuables can be gone - it really can be that quick.
"People need to look out for their mates and neighbours too, it's about using common sense but if you've just left home you might not know some of these things. Also, in student a house with five or six people who knows who came in last, or if the windows and doors are locked without checking.
"It is all good saying 'it is insured' like some students tell me. But you cannot get back your assignment if your laptop is stolen a few days before it's in."
Caroline Henry, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire, added: "With burglary it is also the emotional aspect that someone has been into your safe space and taken your stuff. We have done a lot of 'target hardening', offering Ring doorbells to houses."
Mrs Henry said 400 homes had been fitted with Ring doorbells to provide deterrence and surveillance in the city central district. £46k has also been allocated to be spent on CCTV in the area.
According to police neighbourhood crime figures there were 4,799 burglaries across Nottinghamshire last year, this is a 2.8% drop from 4,935 for 2020-21.
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