A group of York students has won the opportunity to have their very own I-phone application developed after winning The App Challenge final, held at the Ron Cooke Hub on Wednesday, January 18.
YUSU Welfare officer Bob Hughes has warned students to be vigilant after a student loans phishing scam has been revealed.
Her Majesty the Queen will be visiting York on Maundy Thursday, 5th April, as part of the 800th anniversary of York’s Charter for the traditional “Royal Maundy” ceremony.
A flood caused by a heating system “failure” forced the university IT services to shut down many essential systems on Sunday night, causing problems for many students on the eve of their exams and assignment due-dates.
The crimes have largely been committed in the Heslington area and Fishergate, which have high numbers of second and third year student residents living in rented accommodation.
North Yorkshire Police revealed that since 1 October 2011 there have been eight theft offences in the Heslington ward and nine in Fishergate. Most of the thefts have involved bicycles which have been left out in rear yards or gardens, or laptops visible through windows.
Officers say that the number of alleyways in those areas makes it easy for thieves to climb over walls unnoticed and they are appealing to students to make life as difficult as possible for criminals.
Jon-Mark Buchanan, Police Community Officer for University of York and Heslington, advised students to lock their doors, even when at home, to hide valuable items from view of windows and doors, not to leave items unsecured outside, and to never leave valuables, such as satnavs, mobiles or laptops, in cars.
He said: “Thieves are opportunist – if you give them an opportunity they will take it, just don’t give them the opportunity and it eradicates the problem.”
In an article in YUSU’s weekly newsletter, Buchanan added: “The Heslington Road area has previously suffered from opportunist thefts and burglaries, which usually target specifically students due to their vulnerability and high value goods. We currently have some known criminals who are frequenting the area and may target this area due to the vulnerability.”
In an attempt to educate students, the local Safer Neighbourhood Team, which covers Heslington and Fishergate, has been working to raise awareness at the University of York over the past few months, beginning with PCSOs giving crime prevention presentations during Freshers’ Week.
Officers have also been conducting high-visibility evening patrols and letters have been delivered to properties in the areas, urging people to take the necessary steps to protect their homes and belongings.
Despite the recent spike in thefts, crime in the Heslington ward is down by 50% compared to this time last year, with theft offences alone dropping by 64%. Fishergate ward has also seen a 16% reduction with theft down by 4%.
Officer Buchanan reassured students that, if they take the right precautions, their homes and possessions will be safe.
“York is a very safe place to live, some basic security measures will help you stay safe,” he said.
He added that students should contact the Police immediately if they do witness a burglary, calling 999 if seeing a burglary in progress or calling 101 to report a burglary.
Student letting agency IG has recently warned students about the rise in thefts in an email to all tenants saying: “We have contacted you today to make you aware of this and to remind you to ensure that all doors and windows are locked on all occasions, even if someone is at home. There has been a rise in sneak-in thefts while residents have been in the property.”
Any students requiring advice on this or any other issue can contact Jon-Mark Buchanan on Jon-Mark.Buchanan@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.
For more crime prevention tips, visit the North Yorkshire Police website. You can also meet your local policing team at police surgeries to get crime prevention advice.
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