A REWARD of £10,000 has been offered after a series of 12 burglaries in West Oxfordshire.

In a three-month period, thieves have broken into houses in Burford, Chipping Norton and the villages in between. Police are linking the crimes.

One victim is offering a reward of £10,000 for the return of their jewellery. The victim, who did not want to be named, had £25,000 worth of jewellery stolen from their home in Swinbrook, near Burford, on October 30, at 6.30pm.

Thieves brought ladders to the scene and gained entry through an insecure bathroom window. The bedroom was searched and a safe was opened.

Det Sgt Dick White said “good sized” houses had been targeted for their jewellery and silverware.

He said: “It seems to be the same MO for each one — the same style of break-in.

“One theme that does stand out is the use of ladders, that are found at the scene.”

The burglaries have taken place between August and November during the day and night.

They include: * August 25 at 1.40pm: Thieves broke into a house in Fulbrook, Burford.

* September 5, at 2pm: Thieves broke into a house in Burford using a ladder.

* September 22: Thieves broke into a house in Burford at 1.35pm via an unlocked back door/ * October 13, 3.54am: Thieves smashed a window to gain access to house in Burford. * October 12, 11pm: Thieves enter property in Burford via insecure conservatory door.

* October 18: Thieves attempted to smash kitchen window at a house in Charlbury.

* October 19, at midnight: Thieves gained entry to a house in Chipping Norton with a ladder taken from the garage.

* October 22, 9am: Thieves entered property in Great Rollright.

* October 27, 11pm: Thieves entered house in Woodstock * November 4, 11.15am: Thieves forced window with a screwdriver at a house in Churchill.

* November 6, 11pm: Thieves moved a ladder and smashed an alarm box at a house in Salford. No entry gained.

Police were not able to give the total value of the items stolen, but the thefts are said to have ranged from £25,000 to a couple of hundred pounds.

Chief Inspector Jack Malhi said: “We are looking for help from the community here, as the people have not yet been identified. Detective work is not magic, it is a lot of hard work for everyone involved, including the community.”

Det Sgt Dick White added: “We ask that the public are vigilant and report anything that is suspicious and make sure their security is up to speed.” He said that residents should make sure their windows and doors are locked and that they secure their ladders.

Chief Inspector Malhi said more patrols had been put on in the areas affected. He said they were also liasing with other districts and counties, including Cherwell and Gloucestershire, where he said they had “indications” that similar crimes had been committed.

Anyone with information about the crimes should contact Thames Valley Police or the anonymous Crimestoppers number, 0800 555 111.

To contact the police with information about the reward, contact Det Sgt Dick White, on 08458 505 505.