“I Felt Violated”

Disturbing numbers of burglaries have been reported in residential areas popular with students in York. This has sparked fears that criminals are deliberately targeting student residences in search of expensive possessions and poor security.

Most heavily affected has been the Fishergate area, encompassing the streets off and around Heslington Road. This is an area commonly chosen by students because of its proximity to campus, easy access into town and plentiful local amenities such as a Spar store and student takeaway favourite Efes.

Unfortunately, it seems clear that the popularity of the area amongst students is also hugely apparent to those who wish to take advantage.

Since the beginning of September, the time when most second and third years began to return to York, there have been at least 50 reported burglaries in the South East York area – an increase from last year. At least 13 of these are known to have been within the Fishergate district alone, an area roughly the size of the University of York campus. The rest of South East York includes Tang Hall, Osbaldwick and Hull Road, also a common choice for students looking for off-campus accommodation.

A resident of Farrar Street who wishes to remain anonymous recounted to Vision how her house was targeted whilst she was at home one night at the beginning of term.

“One morning my housemate and her partner came downstairs and couldn’t find their phones or wallets in the front room. I asked if they’d locked up when they got home the night before, and they admitted they hadn’t – yet despite this they were still shocked at the idea that someone had stolen their things and at first refused to believe that was the explanation. I’m just glad that none of my stuff was stolen.”

It seems that intruders don’t just stop at entering houses when occupants are out of the way. Second year student Rosie Peacock discovered this all too easily when her possessions were taken from her home near Lawrence Street at the end of October.

Speaking exclusively to Vision, the Writing, Directing and Performance student revealed how she went out for a cigarette and absentmindedly forgot to lock the door when she went back inside. Recounting the incident, she explains how an opportunist entered the house through the front door, then made their way into her bedroom.

Knowing that a stranger had gained access to her bedroom while she was sleeping has obviously left its mark on Peacock.

“I felt quite violated… I was asleep, somebody had come into my room and stolen my stuff.”

Her laptop was stolen, along with a pair of GHD hair straighteners, items the police say she is unlikely to ever get back. The investigating officers also told her that three other houses on her street had been burgled that night, all belonging to students.

Despite having lost hundreds of pounds worth of property, Peacock considers herself lucky. She admitted she was relieved that the intruder was obviously only intent on stealing from her, saying that she’d “left [her]self open to all kinds of things happening.”

Student houses are known to the police as prime targets for burglary but, understandably, there is very little they can do when people leave their homes open and vulnerable.

A second year who recently moved into privately rented accommodation told Vision that the back door of his house was frequently left unlocked overnight and that he knows of many students who don’t lock the door behind them when they leave their houses, even if they are unsure whether or not anybody else is home.

A resident of Fishergate, Mrs. Tomasini, has witnessed this first hand. She used to work at the University, and thinks that students believe that the worst will never happen to them.

Talking to Vision, she reveals that to her, crime always seems to get worse in the area when students return to university. She also believes that she has an idea who is responsible for the thefts.

“I’ve seen youths walking along the street, trying all the doors [to see if they’re open], but I don’t feel like I can confront them on my own.” It is clear that the spate of burglaries is having repercussions that stretch far beyond the immediate victims.

Second year Biology student Amy Skyte, who lives on the same street as Mrs. Tomasini has admitted she too is scared by the atmosphere.

“We had the police knocking on our door, and others near where we live. They told us about ten burglaries just in our street and the next. They warned us to keep our front doors locked at all times. Since then, I’ve heard people trying my front door handle when I’ve been in the house. It is quite frightening.”

The University has responded by pointing out that while there have been no burglaries on campus this term, crime prevention advice has had to be distributed to students living off campus upon the advice of the police. Welfare Officer Laura Borisovaite has also pointed out that students should try to prevent being targeted by keeping doors and windows secure, and valuables out of sight.

She added, “I would encourage anyone who feels affected by this to contact the University Support Services, drop in at the Advice and Support Centre, use Nightline or contact myself for support.” North Yorkshire Police were unaware who was responsible for the Fishergate burglaries at the time Vision went to print.