Police warning after student homes in Southsea targeted by burglarsÂ

UNIVERSITY students are being warned to check their houses are locked and secure following a series of break-ins.
A number of burglaries have taken place recentlyA number of burglaries have taken place recently
A number of burglaries have taken place recently

Police are investigating after student properties in Southsea and central Portsmouth were targeted by burglars.

Thefts in five different streets have been reported between September 22 and September 27.

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Games consoles, bank cards, laptops and bikes are among some of the items stolen.

A number of burglaries have taken place recentlyA number of burglaries have taken place recently
A number of burglaries have taken place recently

The crimes have warranted officers and Portsmouth City Council councillors to remind students on how to protect their homes from burglars. 

The incidents were:

- Lake Road, between 4pm and 8.20pm on September 27. 

Suspects entered a ground-floor flat through an insecure window. A PS4 games console was taken.

- Belmont Street, between 10pm on September 26 and 8.30am on September 27.

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A house was entered from the back and two bikes worth £2,500 were stolen.

- Vernon Avenue, between 12am on September 22 and 7pm on September 25.

No signs of forced entry and bank cards and electrical items were taken.

- Somers Road, between  3pm and 4pm on September 24.

Entry was gained through an insecure window and items, including three laptops were stolen.

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An attempted burglary has also been reported to police after the front door was damaged by a suspect in a bid to gain entry.

People living in the house, on Belmont Street, were in at the time and the suspect ran off.

It happened between 2pm and 2.10pm on September 24.

Councillor Steve Pitt said crimes of this type have happened before, including in his central Southsea ward.

'˜We remind all residents, including students, to be particularly vigilant around this time of year when people are coming back to the city and taking up residency again,' he said.

'˜People need to be extra aware and not tempt thieves.'

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Tips from the police for students include considering having a lock for individual bedrooms, making an agreement with all residents about checking windows and doors are locked, hiding or locking away all valuables and making a record of make and model of all electrical items and bikes.

Anyone with information on the crimes should call police on 101 quoting the following reference numbers in order of the incidents listed above: 44180365309; 44180364875; 44180362498; 44180360846; 44180360467.