University's day of shame

4:20pm Wednesday 25th April 2007

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IT should have been one of the University of Hertfordshire's proudest days as it staged an annual event usually hosted by Oxford or Cambridge.

But instead thieves turned the day into one of embarrassment by stealing valuables worth thousands of pounds from the rooms of visiting academics.

Lap-tops, mobiles and watches were looted from six guests as more than 200 dignitaries - including deans and chancellors from some of the finest universities in the UK - met last Wednesday for the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) conference.

Police say the thefts occurred after the guests were shown to their rooms on the new de Havilland campus by volunteer students. They also confirmed they were investigating claims that somebody used a key card to gain access to the rooms.

A university spokesman said: "We're taking this incident very seriously indeed and we are working with the police.

"This has never happened before and we will be reimbursing guests for their losses while we investigate this matter."

Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 0845 33 00 222.