University challenge

By Sarah Modlock

31 August 2005

Students are incredibly attractive people. They attract a lot of debt, a lot of homework and a hell of a lot of hangovers. They are also irresistible to burglars. So when terms starts at the end of this summer, thieves will expect rich pickings from student digs and halls of residence.

Amidst the frolics of freshers' week, one in three students fall victim to crime at university each year with one in four becoming a victim of property crime such as a burglary according to research by Saga. Little wonder when 70% of students own a computer or laptop, 86% own mobile phones and most student houses are equipped with several TVs, DVD players, bicycles, iPods and stereos. Replacement costs for these items alone, and a collection of just twenty CDs or DVDs, could be as much as £2,000.

According to insurance industry estimates, today's students are leaving home with possessions worth between £3,315 and £6,370, mainly because of all the technology they take with them. Yet fewer than 10% of students take out insurance probably because they think they will never need it or cannot afford it. But with claims averaging between £500 and £800, it is a false economy to avoid cover.

Nationally, around a quarter of all burglaries are through an insecure door or window. Saga's advice to parents of students looking for student digs in either halls-of-residence or private rented accommodation, is to carry out a quick security check on the property, paying special attention to windows and doors to see just how easy it would be for a thief to break in. 'For many students, making new friends and socialising will be high on their agenda and security is unlikely to be at the forefront of their minds,' points out Saga's Andrew Goodsell. This makes them easy targets for criminals, but by taking a few simple security measures, the risk of becoming a victim can be greatly reduced.'

Your starter for ten...

Many university halls of residence now offer block possessions insurance cover with the rent. The policy details should be available with your accommodation information and should be read carefully so that you are clear about what is covered and what isn't.

Watch out for exclusions, such as for theft without forced entry. Put simply, this could mean your claim is rejected if your laptop was stolen by your housemate's boyfriend's cousin's friend when they kipped on the sofa last Saturday night. Some policies wont cover items left in student accommodation out of term time and most specify that you must have a lock on your bedroom door, even if you are in a shared house, to make a successful claim. If you don't have internal locks or adequate security, hassle your landlord - you are entitled to decent home security.

Make sure you know how claims are made and settled and whether you will be required to pay any excess - a contribution to the costs which could be several hundred pounds - for claims. The other information to check is 'sums assured' - this is the maximum amount of money you can claim for a stolen item. The best cover offers 'new for old' which means regardless of age and condition, your insured items will be replaced with new ones. Avoid policies which will pay out what you spent on an item or give you the second-hand value.

If the cover falls short in any way, for instance if an item is not covered, or the maximum sum that you can claim for any item is inadequate, arrange to get additional cover elsewhere. This is where you parents could come in handy. Well, you knew they must be useful for something. If you are living away from halls or are living-in but need to top up your cover, your parents' existing home contents insurance may extend cover to students living away from home. 'Several of the big insurers including Norwich Union, Lloyds TSB and More Th>n offer this option for no extra charge,' advises Richard Mason of insurancesupermarket.com. 'The cover includes up to £5,000 worth of possessions or 15% of the sum insured on the parents' policy (normally about £30,000 therefore providing insurance for £4,500 worth of possessions),' he says. If there is nothing in their current policy it's worth contacting the insurer and finding out how much additional cover would cost. Again, it pays to read the small print.

If your parents live in a caravan or you don't want to rely on them then the National Union of Students recommends Endsleigh for insurance although it is worth shopping around as there are several companies, including Saga, offering specialist policies.

Prevention rather than cure

The Police recommend that you get to know your hall warden or landlord. If you have concerns about safety/security they are your first point of contact. Always keep valuables out of view and hide your laptop and car keys as these are very often stolen in burglaries. If you are not sure about anything concerning the safety of yourself or your belongings then contact your local police crime reduction adviser. He or she will be more than happy to help, free of charge. Contact your local police station.

You may not associate Saga with young people but they are keen to help. Saga Home Insurance is offering a free copy of the Student Survival Guide, which has been produced by the Home Office, together with the police and National Union of Students as part of its crime reduction campaign. A free copy of the guide is available online at www.saga.co.uk/finance/household or by calling 0800 068 8412.

Finally, no matter how carefully you initial every one of your items in the fridge, you can guarantee that you be a victim of theft at some stage.