Saga offers security advice to students

Insurance provider Saga has offered guidance to students who will be beginning their first year at university this year, stating that one in ten of them have a chance of being burgled each year during their studies.

Lots of robberies take place through carelessness, the company claims, with a quarter taking place because of an open or insecure door or window.

Students are attractive targets for thieves, according to Saga, as they often have valuable belongings, such as laptops, mobile phones, TVs, DVD players and iPods.

Replacement costs for these sorts of items can often run to as much as £2,000, Saga claims.

Andrew Goodsell, chief executive of the company, said: “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.

“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.”

Saga advises students and their parents to carry out a brief check of any property before they move in, considering how easy or hard it may be for a burglar to break into.

Student cover is available as an add-on for individuals whose parents have Saga home contents insurance and provides up to £3,500 of cover for contents at accommodation and during transfer to and from home.