We want you to have a great time while you study here in Leeds.  Below are our top tips for keeping yourself safe:

• Take care when out and about in Leeds at night. Try, if you can, to stick to busy, well-lit streets.
• Look after your mates! Try to move around the city after dark in a group.  Don’t leave people behind on a night out.
• Don’t flaunt your phone or other expensive devices, as this could make you a target. Likewise, take care if you are wearing headphones, as you might not be able to hear people approaching.
• Keep purses, wallets and other valuables out of view.
• Walk towards oncoming traffic when out and about at night, so a car cannot pull up behind you when you are unaware.
• Carry your keys in your pocket, not your bag. You can surrender your bag to any attacker as a way of getting away quickly, and you won’t have lost your keys.
• If an attacker attempts to take something from you – let them. You are worth more than any gadget.
• Always carry the number of a reputable taxi company on a night out. You could pre-book a taxi for a particular time or use one of the Hackney carriages available from designated taxi stands across the city. Also, try to share taxis with friends, as it’s both safer and cheaper!
• Be careful when out drinking. Alcohol can lead to people losing their common sense when it comes to their personal safety. Again, remember to look after your mates!
• Keep an eye on your drinks in pubs and clubs and never leave your drink unattended as you could be at risk of having your drink “spiked”. Don’t accept drinks from people you don’t know.

Students accommodation can be very desirable for burglars, due to the number of high-value contents within the property. Here are our top tips for keeping your property and possessions safe:

• Close and lock doors, even if you’re only going out for a short time. It is advisable to keep doors and ground floor windows locked even if you are at home, to prevent “sneak-in” burglars.  
• Avoid letting people into Joseph Stones House that you do not know, you could be holding the door open for a burglar.
• If you live in halls, basic contents insurance is usually included in your rent, but it is up to you to ensure that expensive items are adequately covered (such as musical instruments, phones, and laptops).
• Take anything valuable home with you during the holidays.
• Register any electrical goods such as mobile phones and laptops (in fact any item with a serial number) as well as bikes, on the national property database for free.  Visit www.immobilise.com. Police check this database in the event stolen goods are recovered.
• Alternatively, use a UV pen to mark your property with your postcode. We advise that you use your family home address rather than your term-time address, as this may change quite frequently.
• If your phone is stolen, report it immediately to the police and your network provider (or call 0870 1123 123 to immobilise it). It helps to know your unique IMEI number of your handset. Enter *#06# into your keypad to access yours, and make a note of it.
• When out and about, DON’T flaunt your phone and other valuables. It may feel safer to chat to someone on the phone as you are walking around at night, but it isn’t; be discrete.