Student Nightmares (Student Safety)

Member Name: Grimsbygal

Product:	Student Safety
Date:	02/02/02 (169 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: see op

Disadvantages: no one is safe anywhere

Although this opinion is in a student category it is not totally aimed at students. It should be helpful to many people out there and could save lives.

This is not the most reassuring opinion I have written. I am sorry if I scare any students or put anyone off going to university but I feel as if we should face reality and the true stories should be told. Crime is part of life. Not a day goes by when you hear a story on the news about a murder or a mugging. For some people it is just a daily habit, pinching someones phone and causing misery to hundreds. I feel like a policeman writing this opinion. Every year a policeman comes to our university and explains the dangers of living in a big city away from home. Let's face it though some people are unfortunate and students are not always the victims.

People often think students are an easy target. I am in my third year at university and I wouldn't agree more. I hear student crime stories all the time and many are not pleasant. So why are they an easy target? What have they got what other people haven't? I would say over 99% of students have got mobile phones, especially those living away from home. These seem the in fashion item to pinch at the moment. Also many students have mini discs or walkmans. Although we have no money we have a reputation for having the latest gadgets. Students have often moved away from home and are not familiar with the area. The bad guys now this and tend to take advantage of us.

I think there are ways to lower your chances of becoming the next rippers' victim. Nothing is going to protect you completely. You cannot stay in your room forever or make sure you don't go anywhere alone. There are actions though that you can take to try and prevent the situation.

There are many general safety tips that you will be warned of wherever you go whether you are a student or not. The thing is though if you are a student and have moved away from home
then you face new dangers.

I am at university in Wolverhampton. This may be well known for crime but still you don't expect to hear some stories that you do. The main student area of Wolverhampton has a big alley running through it. This alley gets quite a bit of criminal action throughout the year as there are numerous small alleyways branching off it. There are many places to hide and many places to commit a serious heartbreaking crime. However many students still walk through it at all times of the day. I recommend sticking to main roads where the area is busy even during the middle of the day. If you have to go anywhere at night by yourself make sure you get a taxi. This might cost money and you may think you cannot afford to eat away anymore at your overdraft but think about the consequences. If something happened you would not worry about your overdraft then, would you? I always say to myself if I cannot afford the taxi, I cannot afford to go out, as simple as that. Don't just get in any old taxi though; make sure you see I.D from the driver before getting in. I have got a personal safety alarm, which lets of a loud squeal when pulled. This only cost around £2.00 and are available from most universities and they could help prevent a nightmare.

When you are going out for a drink make sure you keep guard of your drink constantly. These days many illegal substances are been put into peoples' drinks so they can be taken advantage off. If a stranger offers to buy you a drink turn the offer down. You might want a free drink but you don't want a free disgusting ride.

This friend of a friend was in the city centre before Christmas and she got mugged right in front of everyone on a busy street. No one bothered to intervene and she was left on the floor with a broken nose and her belongings gone. She could have prevented this if she had not had a purse and mobile phone on show. She tried to fight them off and ended up with
a visit to casualty. Make sure if you have a phone or a purse handy it does not look as if it can be taken from you easy.

You may think once you are in your room at night you will be safe from the outside world. If you do not lock your doors how do you know someone is not going to walk in and attack you? You may live in halls and have a locked corridor door but it still doesn't mean no one will get in. My friend woke up in the middle of the night to find a man stood in her room rooting through her things. Luckily he just ran when she screamed but he still pinched her phones.

Nowhere is classed as a safe place to live in student accommodation. Often we have had bogus callers into our halls pretending they are caretakers or electricians. This leads me to say do not let anyone in you do not recognise. If people require access to your halls they should have been given a key by reception or have university staff with them. Always check their I.D if they require access into your room and once they are in your room be careful you don't leave them with money or other important documents in easy access.

If you choose to live in rented accommodation be careful when picking the house. Student safety is not just about crime it is also about fire and health. Before signing any papers make sure the house has safety certificates and it has been checked for carbon monoxide and gas leaks. You often hear the horror stories about how a house full of students died in the night because the landlord had neglected the house. Also make sure that each bedroom has locks on the doors and smoke alarms fitted.

If you choose to rent without friends and are moving in with a bunch of strangers be careful about who they are. Not all students are sweet and innocent and may be criminals themselves. Remember that your so-called friends might not be as nice as you think they are. Someone I know moved in to a house with friends and discovered two months lat
er he had a credit card bill for nearly a thousand pound. One of them had pinched his card and gone on a spending spree.

Make sure you never leave a spare key outside your premises for anyone. The plant pot by the side of your door might look like a convenient location to put your key so mates can let themselves in but that is where the criminals will look first.

Burglars love Christmas and it's not for the same reason as you and I. It is a well-known fact that many students go home for the Christmas holidays and many cannot carry their entire possessions home so they leave them in their room. When they get back after the holidays some of their rooms are bare. This is often a hard time of year to prevent burglaries happening but you can try and make it look as if you are home. You can buy timer switches, which can cause your lights to go off and come on at certain times. I suggest you close your curtains so the thief cannot look in. This will not make it obvious you are out as many students keep their curtains closed all the time anyway.

As a student you have to be careful not to reveal your true identity to just anyone. If you are sitting on the bus for example and a complete stranger starts asking you questions make sure you don't give too much away and lie if necessary. I can remember being followed home one night and I pretended I was on the phone to my fiancé who was supposedly on his way to pick me up from outside a nearby pub. I went and waited in the door way and he quickly left.

I think I have said enough. As several things have been mentioned in this opinion I feel a summarised list is needed.
Never walk down alleyways alone.
Always get taxis at night
Buy yourself a personal alarm
Look your doors at night
Don't trust anyone

Two last tips, be careful and get your possessions insured. Don't worry too much and enjoy life as a student.

Summary: