Thieves steal Christmas presents (From The Oxford Times)

Thieves steal Christmas presents

2:54pm Wednesday 31st December 2008 in News By Matt Wilkinson

Thieves struck four times in six days stealing Christmas presents and other valuables from the back seats of cars.

All four thefts happened in Headington, Oxford, between Christmas Eve and Monday morning.

Police are now appealing to people not to leave gifts or shopping in their car.

Det Sgt Matt Jarman, head Oxford’s auto-crime team, said: “At this time of year many people are travelling with recently received gifts or shopping from the New Year sales. Please do not leave them where car thieves can see them – many of them are drug addicts and will steal anything they can sell on to fund their habit.

“In some incidents recently, people have been covering up items with a blanket or a coat. But this will not deter them: it will only make a thief break in to find out what is being hidden, incurring you expense and inconvenience to get your car repaired.

The first theft happened between 3am and 7am on Christmas Eve when a handbag and some ornaments were stolen from a car in Spring Lane.

On Saturday groceries were stolen from a car in Holyoake Road.

Then in the early hours of Monday a rice cooker was stolen from a car parked in Ivy Lane and a crockery set taken from the backseat of a car in Osler Road.

Det Sgt Matt Jarman has also urged motorists to park in well-lit areas, remove all valuables from the car including the glove box and security register mobile phones, MP3 players, laptops and sat navs for free at www.immobilise.com.

Anyone with information on the thefts should contact police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.