A WARNING has gone out to leisure centre users after thieves ransacked a changing room and stole clothes and valuables.

Neil Boon's locker was among three emptied at Ferry Sports Centre, in Marston Ferry Road, between 12.45pm and 3.30pm on Tuesday, May 15.

All his clothes were taken, along with his car keys, bank cards and a mobile phone.

Mr Boon, who visits the centre several times a week, said: "We got out of the pool and realised our lockers had been broken into.

"There wasn't a great deal of money fortunately and most of the stuff turned up elsewhere in the sports centre the next day - all my clothes except my trousers.

"It's a real pain, I'm going to have to change the lock on my car and I've cancelled my cards, luckily the car wasn't parked in the car park.

"When we saw my colleague's locker and his clothes were gone we thought it was quite funny then, when I checked my locker as well, and all my stuff was gone it was a bit of a shock.

"I'm going to try to take less stuff with me in future, but you have always got your keys with you if you are driving.

"I think what it needs is people to be aware that thieves are operating in the area and the biggest concern is that the lockers don't appear to be particularly secure if a guy can get into three of them.

"It could have been a lot worse."

Mr Boon's colleague, who did not wish to be named, also had all his belongings taken, including a payslip and wallet containing identification.

Later that day, £1,000 was taken out of his bank account.

He said: "I have had to change all my locks and as a foreigner in a foreign country, to have all your valuables taken away when you think they are safe is quite a shock.

"I am certainly not impressed that the bank let someone take £1,000 out of my account which is absolutely astonishing and unbelievable."

Thames Valley Police spokesman Toby Shergold said: "We have had three reported thefts from both the men's and women's changing rooms.

"Mobile phones, jewellery, wallets, purses and credit cards were stolen from a number of lockers and we are investigating the thefts."

He confirmed that there had been reports money had been taken from one of the victim's bank accounts following the incident and police would be looking into it.

Police are keen to talk to a black man in his early 20s, about 5ft 9in tall with short hair and an average build who was acting suspiciously in the changing rooms prior to the incident.

Louisa Dean, spokesman for Oxford City Council which runs the centre, said: "We can confirm that valuables were stolen from three lockers at Ferry Sports Centre on Tuesday.

"We would advise our customers to avoid bringing valuables to our facilities if at all possible.

"Posters are in place advising customers to put their belongings in lockers and staff check the changing rooms on a regular basis.

"We would ask customers to help us by being vigilant and report any suspicious activities immediately to a member of staff."