Selly Oak and predominantly the Bournbrook area, has a large student population. this makes up around 60% of all people living in Selly Oak. The Bournbrook area is a residential area with a large amount of terraced properties that are used as student living. This area has historically seen a large number of burglaries with student properties being targeted for electrical items or jewellery.

The Selly Oak Neighbourhood team have worked hard to reduce burglaries in this area through targeted crime prevention work. This has included door knocking as many properties as we can in the Bournbrook area alongside University of Birmingham Community Ambassadors. Joint work has also taken place with other partner agencies including Birmingham City housing teams, private landlords and estate agents. Officers have also liaised with local shops and businesses to provide advice around stolen property.
Since May 2021, we have reduced burglaries by almost 50%.
We will continue to strive to reduce burglaries through targeted work.

Selly Oak area has 2 large retail parks consisting of various large chain stores. There is also the 'high street' section with small stores alongside further large chain stores. These have historically attracted theft offences from the stores.

Different strategies are taking place to combat retail crime. We are using uniformed and plain clothed patrols. We have created a business watch in the retail area alongside the 'high street' area allowing for local businesses to share crime issues with each other and with ourselves. We also share information on current offenders so all stores are aware who to look for.
We are aware that shoplifting is a precursor to other offending so have been working with support agencies in the area to try to target the people we believe to be offenders.
Through the use of civil interventions such as community protection notices, we are targeting those people causing harm through ASB and crime offences. We need support from the community though - please let us know where the offenders may be taking the stolen items through the crimestoppers phone number - 0800 555 111.