RESIDENTS have been urged to stay 'vigilant' and assess the safety of their homes as a spate of Oxfordshire burglaries continues.

Police have appealed for witnesses after a burglar forced open a kitchen window in Botley and snatched jewellery from inside the house.

The daytime raid happened between 2.30pm and 2.50pm on Friday, in Hurst Rise Road off Cumnor Hill. 

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Officers' appeal stated: "We would ask residents to be vigilant in keeping an eye out for unusual activity in your street including vehicles and people that may look out of place.

"Report it on 101 as soon as possible or 999 if you suspect that a crime is taking place at that moment.

"Look at your home through the eyes of a burglar. If you think your home security looks poor, chances are, so will a burglar. 

"Are there any places they could break in without being seen?

"If you have forgotten your keys but can still get in, so can a burglar."

It issued advice including fitting a burglar alarm, CCTV, keeping doors and windows locked and ensuring gates and sheds are sturdy and secure.

Yesterday police officers patrolled in North Oxford after a string of burglaries in the area, encouraging residents to chat to their neighbourhood team if they have concerns.

Last month a senior Oxford police officer said the threat of opportunist burglaries increases in the summer months.

LATEST BURGLARY AND THEFT APPEALS

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  • Trespassers climbed over a fence and broke into a building site. 

The break-in happened at the Gladman Developments site in Sibford Road, Hook Norton, where it is building new houses.

Police said it took place between 4.30pm on Thursday and 07.20am on Friday, but did not state if anything was taken. 

  • Opportunistic thieves crept into a Cowley home while the owners were inside and stole two purses.

The burglars entered the house in White Road through an insecure window between 11pm on Wednesday and 7am on Thursday.

People were in the house at the time.

Once inside, the thieves took two purses from the hallway before taking off.

  • Crafty thieves syphoned petrol from a lorry parked in a layby in Oxfordshire.

Thames Valley Police is hoping there may have been witnesses to the offence, which took place at around 1am on Friday on the layby, near junction 9 of the A34 at Wendlebury.

The force did not specify exactly how much fuel was taken or how many people they suspect were involved.

  • Thieves raided a greenhouse in the back garden of an Oxford home and made off with two bicycles.

Police launched an appeal following the burglary in Gladstone Road, Headington, during the day on Wednesday.

The burglars got into the back garden via a side gate between 9am and 6pm before stealing two bikes from the greenhouse.