Property and Personal Safety Information

House Security

 With it being Freshers, this is a very vunerable time of year for security.  Burglars know that Freshers and lots of returning students are moving into new accommodation and, with the prospects of there being a higher number of expensive items in a student house (4-5 TVs, computers etc), they present a prime target.

But there are a number of steps you can take to reduce the chance of your accommodation being broken into. * Make sure that, when you leave your house, all windows and doors are securely fastened and locked. This will reduce the risk of being broken into.

• Make sure that all bins are brought into the yard from the street and any gates are locked tightly, so people cannot open them.
• Make sure that, if you have any spare keys for the house, they are hidden away somewhere safe and not left in an easily findable place. Although this sounds obvious, it is a lot harder getting heavier items out of a window than it is out of the front door.
• Make sure that all of your valuable possessions are marked with a UV marker pen (these are available through University Facilities) and write down the serial numbers for them. This way, your property can be traced.
• Do not leave any valuable possessions on public display eg. easily seen through a window. If burglars looks into your house and cannot see anything worth stealing, they are less likely to spend their time robbing the place.
• If you're going away for a long period of time, ask a trusted neighbour or friend to keep an eye on your house for you.
• It may also be a good idea to go to a local hardware shop and buy a timer switch that will turn the lights in your house on and off.
• In dire circumstances, you can tell the police to keep an eye on your property.

Walking the Streets

  Be careful if you are walking the streets by yourself late at night. If you are worried about your personal safety, the Students' Union does offer free attack alarms, which are available from their reception on the Ground Floor of the Edinburgh Building on the City Campus or from the Education and Welfare Officer. They are simple to use practical devices, that can buy you a couple of vital seconds, if you are attacked.

• Try not to walk alone at night (especially if you have been drinking)
• If you are doing so, try and stick to areas and routes that are familiar to you and do not walk down alleyways or badly lit paths.
• Be alert and notice what is going on. Try not to listen to your personal stereo, as this can distract you from being aware of things around you.
• If you think you are being followed, try and go somewhere where you know there will be people eg. a shop and wait for the person following you to walk past. Ask someone who is in the shop to help, if you are really worried.