A sneak-in burglar stole a laptop, camera and speaker after climbing through an insecure bedroom window of a student property.
The victims returned to their address, in the Lenton area of Nottingham, on the night of Saturday 17 September to find the back door had been unlocked and their property had been taken.
Following some diligent police work, involving Nottinghamshire Police’s criminal investigation department proactive team, a suspect was swiftly identified, arrested and subsequently charged.
Jahya Williams, aged 35, of no fixed address, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court today (Saturday 24 September 2022) where he pleaded guilty to burglary.
He was remanded in custody and will appear for sentencing in due course.
The sentencing comes as police remind students, particularly those living in the Lenton, Radford and The Arboretum areas, to be vigilant against opportunist burglars including ensuring they check their doors and windows are locked when they go out or go to bed.
Detective Inspector Chris Berryman, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Despite our continuing drive to prevent burglaries and ensure our student communities are a crime-free as possible, we still need students to remain vigilant and make sure they take the necessary steps to protect themselves and avoid becoming victims.
“Student properties can be targeted by burglars due to them being left insecure and also having numerous occupants meaning rich pickings for the burglar.
“We’d urge students to check their door and window locks are working correctly and remember to make sure they keep their doors and windows locked at all times, especially if their rooms are on the ground floor.
“Students living in multi-occupancy properties should work together to ensure they all take responsibility for keeping their home secure.
“Make sure that valuables, including cash, phones or electrical items, are kept out of sight to any passers-by and the keys to your property and vehicles are kept in a safe place out of sight and well away from your letterbox.”
DI Berryman added: “We want the new and existing students of Nottingham to enjoy the new term and everything our city has to offer, not to have it spoilt by falling victim to a burglary.
“We know students who have lost two years of work and their dissertations because their laptops have been stolen. That work is irreplaceable and can jeopardise their university course.
“Some of these properties have ground floor windows which face onto the street. It is an easy access and getaway for burglars if these windows are left open.
“Nottinghamshire Police has two proactive burglary teams which are committed to preventing and reducing this type of crime, as well as supporting victims, and the force will always do everything it can to bring burglars to justice.”
Advice guide – Student survival guide – Nottinghamshire Police
Police safety tips as students welcomed back to Nottingham
New students arriving in Nottingham this September are being warmly welcomed by police, with officers on hand to provide safety advice and crime prevention tips.
With the city’s annual Freshers events occurring through September, officers will be on hand at various locations in the city to meet and engage with Nottingham’s newest residents.
Ahead of their arrival, Nottingham’s Night Time Economy Safety Group – comprising Nottinghamshire Police, the city’s two universities and student unions, Pub Watch, Nottingham City Council and Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID) – has also met to discuss and implement a range of initiatives designed to ensure the safety of students.
They include:
- Increased patrols during the night-time economy and transport network;
- Continuation of the Safety of Women at Night (SWAN) project, including designated safe spaces;
- Deployment of Operation Guardian – uniformed and plain-clothed officers undertaking regular proactive searches for drug dealers and knife-carriers.
Chief Inspector Amy English, who chairs Nottingham’s Night Time Economy Safety Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome both new and returning students to the city. Our officers will be on hand throughout September and the new academic year and we encourage students to say hello.
“We know new and returning students will be desperate to get out and take full advantage of Freshers Week. For many, this will be the first time they have lived away from home and we want to make sure that they enjoy the best of what our area has to offer, while staying safe and drinking responsibly.
“We would ask that when you are out, make sure you stay with friends and look out for each other. If you think someone has had too much to drink, please look after them and help them get home. If you feel like you need to go home, ask a friend to go with you.
“Make sure you always have your keys, money, phone and a plan to get home. That way, you can enjoy the best nightlife we have to offer without encountering any problems.
“Nottingham is a safe place to live and socialise, but we would always ask students to remain vigilant. We ask people to report any suspicious behaviour to us directly, or door and venue staff to ensure we can act upon it.”
Managing the night-time economy involves a huge amount of planning and Nottinghamshire Police works in partnership with many organisations including Pub Watch, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham BID, East Midlands Ambulance Service, the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University to keep people safe.
Police also work with door staff, pub managers, street pastors and community protection officers employed by the council.
With this partnership approach, Nottingham has been internationally recognised as a safe place to socialise by the Purple Flag accreditation scheme, which recognises excellence in the management of a safe town or city centre.
The Purple Flag accreditation indicates that Nottingham city centre is a safe and vibrant place to enjoy a great night out. Nottingham BID takes the lead on securing this accreditation working alongside Nottinghamshire Police and has been awarded to Nottingham for the past 13 successive years in recognition of the fantastic partnership work that goes on in the background to keep people safe.
Alex Flint, CEO of Nottingham BID, said: “Nottingham is a vibrant city, a great place in which to live, study and have fun in, and we want students to know that they can feel safe and supported in city centre pubs, clubs, bars and entertainment venues, as well as on public transport when travelling at night. This is why Nottingham BID and the Consent Coalition have developed the ‘Safe Space Pledge’ to help improve the safety of women and girls in the night time economy.”
The pledge is made up of eight actions and commitments that venues can take, and if they sign up to the pledge, they will display a poster and will be listed on the Nottingham BID website.
The University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University added in a joint statement: “The start of the academic year always brings a buzz to the city of Nottingham, and we want all new and returning students to feel welcome and part of an inclusive, safe and respectful community. We work closely with our Students’ Unions, Nottinghamshire Police and Community Protection and other local partners throughout the year to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students both on and off campus.
“We want our students to enjoy getting to know Nottingham but to be considerate of their own safety and others and to remain vigilant. We encourage anyone who sees anything suspicious to report it to the police immediately. On campus, we advise anyone who may be feeling vulnerable to call our 24/7 security teams who will be able to help.”
