Burglar who Targeted University Accommodation Gets Eight Months In Jail

Published on: 11 Oct, 2012
Updated on: 13 Oct, 2012

A Guildford man has been sentenced to eight months in prison for a burglary he committed last week at the University of Surrey.

Robert Vince, 21, of Southway, was arrested following the break-in at student accommodation in Battersea Court just after 9pm on Wednesday, October 3.

Surrey Police have stated that he was charged and remanded to court the following day, where he pleaded guilty to the burglary, which included the theft of a laptop computer, a mobile phone and a digital camera.

Guildford Neighbourhood Commander, Chief Inspector Matt Goodridge, said: “We have had an ongoing problem with burglaries on the university campus which typically peaks at the beginning of the academic year when the new students arrive.

“We have put a number of measures in place to tackle the issue, and have a dedicated higher education liaison officer, Emily Band, who is based at the university. One of her roles is to work with students to raise their awareness of the need to take security measures when they leave their rooms unattended with expensive items, such as laptops and mobile phones, in open view.

“Officers from the Safer Neighbourhood Team also visit the campus on a regular basis to offer crime prevention advice, and give out window alarms and security marker pens.”

“We have also stepped up patrols in and around the campus to target these opportunist thieves and as a result, we have seen the number of incidents drop by half. However, we are not complacent and this latest conviction proves our determination to tackle those who commit crime and cause misery in our local communities.”

A second man, aged 18 years and from Guildford, was arrested with Vince on suspicion of burglary. He has been released on police bail pending further enquiries, to return to Guildford police station on November 6.