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Issue 132 · Wednesday, November 28, 2001
YOUR AWARD-WINNING NEWSPAPER
FREE
Police figures show campus crime on the rise as students fall victim to Waveney break-ins LIZ HUTCHINSON Assistant News Editor
HUNDREDS of pounds worth of property and cash have been stolen from campus rooms after doors were left unlocked by engineers working at Waveney Terrace. Many residents in blocks F and G have been the victims of thefts - which are thought to be the work of opportunist thieves - after rooms were continuously left open by workers installing new telephone and interne! cabling. Students living in the halls have blasted the irresponsible engineers for leaving their belongings at risk. First year DEV student Alix Simpson had £100 snatched alter her room was not locked . "I feel that either the company or the University are responsible , since they were instructed to lock the room . As yei I have received no compensation from either of them, and most of the money wasn't even mine because it was for our Snow Ball tickets," said Alix .
Safe
Concrete talks exclusively to Sir Paul McCartney on his visit to UEA - page 3. Photo: Edward Webb-lngall
Others complained that they don't feel safe alter the recent spate of burglaries and are demanding that action be taken to prevent any more incidents. EAS student, Beth Lamners, who IS visiting from America. was left devastated after discovering that £200 had been taken from her bedroom. "I feel violated and I'm upset about the money because some of 1t was a gift from
my parents," she said . Satelcom, the company thought to be responsible, are also under fire for leaving rooms in a mess and breaking students' property.
Reckless Stuart Byrne, (BIO 1 ), returned home to find his expensive computer desk, crockery and stereo had been damaged by the reckless workmen . "I complained to Satelcom, but I only received an apology from them several weeks later, by which time they eventually mended my desk and replaced my plates ." But a spokesman for the company insists that Satelcom are not at fault and believes that the issue should be taken up with the University . "We have a policy of locking every door and this is reiterated to our engineers." And University Liaison Officer, PC Matthew Ellis urges students to mark their property and cash with UV pens . "Students should also beware of who they let into the main doors at Waveney; vigilance will reduce the chances available for the thieves ,"' said PC Ellis .
Safety University Security chief. Barry Jeckell , assured students that his department are aware of the lack of safety in Waveney Terrace - and have increased the security in the residence . ·we have stepped up patrols around Waveney Terrace , but we keep warning students to be on their guard." said Mr Jeckell.
• NEW police statistics have highlighted how crime on campus has increased since last year. The worrying ligurcs show that more incidcnh ha\ L' been reptlriL'd during the pre\ ious ten \\eeb. sinl'L' the beginning or tenn than in the same period or last ) car. IITil<'' 1\llli<' /find . .-\ Inial of 77 phone L'alls 1\Crc· 111adc the poli<.:C · and )(l of those 1\L'rC theft or da111agc rdai.:d . (O
But ~nm..: an..'a~ of calllfHJs arc more
lil-..:1) to he· hit than others . \\'a' c'nC) Terra.:.:. Suffo lk T.:rra.:c· and The Village arc· the 111nsl popular buildings to he targ.:tcd h) .:ri111inab. l.Jni,crsit) Liaison Offi.:cr. PC ~lallhc"· Ellis is worried ahnul the results - hut bdi.:~cs the atHunm scltlcsll'r j..,
alwa~..,
thL' tim..: whL'n mon: cri m..:
is uHnll1illc'd al the University. 'The rc•suhs arc slighl l) higher than last year. hut .:rime ;\l this ti111c of year is always high as students arc \U incrahk. " it 's of~.:n their first lilllL' ;may fro111 ho111.:. and nor111ally at ho111.: their parents do all of the security things.'' said PC Ellis. And he also clai111s that hc.:ausc UEi\ is a public· pla.:c. lots or lo.:al people arc going to use the l:ampus loo.
"The puhlic have access. so it is diffi. cull to ban people from the area. The main problem is that there arc lots of townic people hanging around as the gigs held at the University allrac·t them. The more people you have in an area. the 111ore crimes there arc going to he:· he added.