“She picked up the knife… we were really scared.”

MULTIPLE BURGLARIES on a popular student street has left many residents fearful.

The multiple thefts at Siward Street are believed to be the work of the same female burglar, who has since been arrested.

She struck a house of second years in the dead of night, taking valuables that included a wallet, passport and an army-style knife.

The students first realised that was something was wrong when they saw the lights on downstairs and heard someone moving around.

One resident went to investigate and caught the thief emerging from a downstairs room. Terrified, the students locked themselves in an upstairs bedroom.

“We were really scared,” admits one of the victims. “I’m pretty sure she picked up the knife after seeing me, so if we had gone downstairs we could have been in serious danger.”

The intruder is described as young and “could have been on something.”

She was able to gain access to the house after the students accidentally left their back door unlocked.

Luckily, the students were able to call the police, who arrived within 5 minutes. “The police were really, really good,” said one resident. “We have definitely learnt our lesson about locking up.”

The police have since delivered ‘Reassurance Packs’ to all houses on Siward Street, advising students on how to make their homes safe.

Advice includes keeping doors and windows locked at all times and keeping lights or radios on when the house is empty.

The high density of student houses on certain York streets makes them a target for thieves. Heslington Road residents have also reported a series of thefts over the past weeks, including laptops and bikes.

YUSU have recommended that students protect their property by registering it for free at www.immobolise.com