A 14-year-old boy was caught driving a stolen car during a nine-day police crackdown in Oxford.

Police put extra officers on the streets of Headington, carried out test-purchase operations at off-licences, ran an automatic number plate recognition operation, handed out crime reduction advice and executed arrest warrants during the operation, which ended on Tuesday.

The crackdown was in response to concerns raised by residents about car theft, burglary and vandalism, and follows a series of armed robberies in the past two months.

There have been at least 10 armed robberies in Headington in the past month, including raids on bookmakers, buses, a taxi driver, an off-licence, takeaway and bank.

Pc Chris Miles, Headington neighbourhood officer, said: “We often have members of the community complaining about low-level crime, such as antisocial behaviour and vandalism, which has a high impact on their quality of life.

“Our ability to be out in numbers this week enabled us to deal with some of these issues. We intend to make this operation a regular thing.”

About 20 officers were sent out on the beat in Headington, Wood Farm, Barton, Risinghurst, Sandhills, Marston and Northway estates between January 26 and Tuesday.

As a result police arrested a 14-year-old boy on suspicion of taking a car without consent after a stolen car narrowly missed an officer on patrol in Barton last Friday.

A 20-year-old man was cautioned for possession of cannabis, a 13-year-old boy was arrested for theft and a 35-year-old man was held on suspicion of carrying out burglaries.

Pc Charlie Ellis, Barton neighbourhood officer, said: “I fully appreciate the public want to see tangible results such as arrests and prosecutions, but this week was also about disrupting criminal behaviour and gathering intelligence.”

Officers also left warning letters for motorists who had valuables on display in their cars and fines were given to six cyclists caught on pavements.

mwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk