The 15 Russell Group university student areas where you’re most likely to be burgled

Students can face many issues with there accommodation: Mould, breakages, and the customary Blu-Tack stained walls.

Although by far the biggest nightmare of all is having to deal with accommodation getting burgled.

Using information from Police.UK, The Tab has collected data on the number of reported burglaries in the some of the Russell Group universities’ most popular student areas between May 2024 and April 2025.

From this, we have created this ranking of the 15 Russell Group student neighbourhoods which have experienced the most burglaries in 2024/25. Is your area on the list?

15. Clifton Down – Bristol

In Clifton Down – towards the north of the university campus – there were 75 burglaries dating between May 2024 and April 2025.

14. Durham City

Durham via Google Maps

Central Durham recorded 76 burglaries over this time.

13. Kenilworth – Warwick

With slightly more, the popular student area of Kenilworth had 81 burglaries.

12. York Outer East

Tang Hall Lane via Google Maps

There were 97 burglaries in York Outer East, which covers areas such as Tang Hall Lane and Osbaldwick.

11. Cambridge City and West

This part of Cambridge had 113 burglaries in 2024/25.

10. Oxford Central

Radfcliffe Camera in Oxford

In Oxford Central, there were 151 burglaries.

9. Cathays – Cardiff

Rhymney Street in Cathays

Cathays in Cardiff come in at ninth. 224 burglaries here over the 12 month period.

8. Portswood – Southampton

Down in Southampton, there were 226 burglaries in the popular areas of Portswood and Highfield.

7. Newcastle Central

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Central Newcastle via Google Maps

Newcastle Central includes the university campus. Police.UK shows 231 burglaries having taken place in this area.

6. Jesmond and Heaton – Newcastle

Elsewhere in the city, Jesmond and Heaton ranks one place higher with 257 burglaries.

5. Selly Oak – Birmingham

Bournbrook Road in Birmingham via Google Maps

Selly Oak in Birmingham is another hugely popular area for student living. The data shows 299 burglaries taking place in the neighbourhood.

4. Edgbaston – Birmingham

Completing the Birmingham one-two is Edgbaston. There were only marginally more (300) burglaries here, according to the data.

3. St James’s – London

A popular spot for London students, the St James’s neighbourhood had 362 burglaries in the past year.

2. Sheffield North West

Next up are the popular student areas in Sheffield. Crookes, Crookesmoor, Broomhill, Broomhall, and Ecclesall Road are all included in the North West neighbourhood, and there were 830 burglaries here between May 2024 and April 2025.

1. Leeds North West

Cardigan Road in Leeds via Google Maps

With the highest amount of burglaries: Leeds. In this area which includes Headingley and Otley, there were 1,157 burglaries in the past year.

Featured image via Google Maps/Canva