This past week has seen burglaries at both Halifax and Langwith Colleges as campus security comes under increased scrutiny in the out-of-term period.
Halifax College was burgled last Sunday night, and the Langwith JCR Corner Room was broken into on Wednesday night. The burglaries follow an attempted break in by a man impersonating a police officer at Fairfax House late last month.
On the evening of Sunday 3 July, a burglar took a window off its hinges to break into a Halifax room and take a laptop. A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police told Vision that the burglary occurred “between 9pm and 1.20am on the 3rd to the 4th of July.” An arrest has been made in connection with the incident. Halifax College administration were not available for comment.
The burglary at Langwith saw the Corner Room broken into through a poorly secured window. A 50-inch television, Nintendo Wii console and games were stolen.
Langwith Chair Cem Turhan was most worried that the incident isn’t the first of its kind: “My main anxieties lie in the fact that this isn’t the first theft in a campus JCRC over the past term, but one of many. It appears not enough investment is being paid in campus security. Having porters covering large areas illustrates the need for more security, as they are unable to protect all areas now their coverage has been reduced.” The break-in recalls the burglary of the Derwent JCR in May where over £1,000 worth of electronic goods were stolen.
Turhan told Vision: “Security services are in dire need of heavier investment and a push to emphasize the service. Freshers’ week will be a prime time for doing this, but unfortunately it means that until we get the next welfare grant, Langwith will be without the equipment we had until the robbery.”
A spokesperson for the University of York said: “We have been informed by police that an arrest has been made in connection with a burglary at Halifax College which occurred between 3 and 4 July. We are also working closely with police officers investigating a further burglary at Langwith Corner Room which happened between 8pm on 6 July and 6.20am on 7 July. As an arrest has been made and police enquiries are ongoing, it would be inappropriate for the University to comment further.”
Anybody with information about these incidents is encouraged to contact the North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060247, quoting reference number 12110110182 – or, if you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
I hope this scumbags will seat behind bars