Dunedin Police and Neighbourhood Support Otago are going door to door in the student quarter to highlight the importance of security.
As part of the security campaign, which was piloted last year in about 250 flats in the campus area, student residents are being urged to secure their flats and mark property with UV marking pens.
Residents are also offered a ''Security Warrant 2013-2014'' sticker for their door or mailbox, on which a contact cellphone number can be written in UV ink.
''We had a good response when we piloted this programme last year, so we are rolling it out further in North Dunedin,'' Neighbourhood Support Otago regional manager Sarah Hexamer said.
Along with residences, the project also aimed to reach businesses in North Dunedin as well as Neighbourhood Support groups across the city, she said.
Dunedin Police Youth and Community manager Senior Sergeant Mark Crawford said the multi-agency project, which also involved Campus Watch, was part of a wider crime-prevention programme.
''What we are doing with this campaign is 'target-hardening' - making it harder for criminals to steal and sell property,'' Snr Sgt Crawford said.
''It's part of a robust strategy to prevent crime from occurring in the first place.''
Along with encouragement to mark their property with the UV pen, residents were being urged to ensure windows and doors were locked and to report suspicious behaviour, he said.
Neighbourhood Support Otago had also been compiling a list of contact phone numbers for student flats, which could be vital in the event of a disaster, Mrs Hexamer said.
The security campaign was part of an ongoing commitment to the North Dunedin area for a range of agencies, including the Community Patrol, she said.
As the security project became well established in North Dunedin, it was gradually being rolled out into other parts of the city, Snr Sgt Crawford said.
For more information about the security programme, contact Neighbourhood Support Otago on 488-2392 or admin@ons.org.nz
