NEW students arriving for their first term in Oxford were given a dose of reality as police launched a campaign to prevent them falling victim to crime.

Reformed criminal Simon Hayday, 41, is going out with police to speak to freshers at Oxford Brookes University to show how not to become a burglary victim.

Headington neighbourhood officer Pc Chris Miles came up with the idea because halls of residence and students’ rented houses are regularly targeted by burglars. Mr Hayday, who spent six years in jail for robbery and theft offences, spoke to individual students about security while police delivered warning leaflets to rooms with windows left ajar.

Mr Hayday, who now works for drugs rehabilitation group Smart, said: “It was shock to some of them.

“But the reality is an opportunistic burglar constantly keeps his eye on places like this.

“Sometimes it’s very easy to be a burglar.

“Students leave their windows open and leave their laptops in full view.

“These visits are about telling the students to keep their windows closed, doors locked and valuables hidden out of sight.

“They should also be careful about who they let into the halls.

“These are the basics.”

The 10-day scheme is part of Operation Breaker, which aims to reduce the number of burglaries in the county.

Police have been visiting Oxford Brookes students living in Cheney Village, John Garne Way and Warneford Halls.

Officers handed out contact details to encourage students to come forward with information or questions and warned them against the dangers of walking home alone late at night.

Pc Miles said: “Last year, the majority of burglaries we had involved criminals reaching in through open windows and stealing laptops.

“When we did a similar operation at the beginning of term last year, we found about 30 or 40 windows open.

“This year there was only one. So the message is getting through.

“We want to make sure they are provided with information on the local area, tips on how they can keep themselves safe and also prevent themselves from becoming a victim of crime.”