A cyclist was injured by a thief who leaned out of a car window and tried to grab her handbag.

The woman cyclist, who is in her 30s, was riding along Blackbird Leys Road, near the junction with Sandy Lane West, when a dark car drove up slowly behind her, at around 10.30pm yesterday.

A white man leaned out of the front passenger window and attempted to grab her bag from her rear basket.

He failed to do so but caused her to fall off and she received cuts and bruises.

Det Con Iain Spencer said: “We would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this attempted theft or if they saw two men in a dark car acting suspiciously in the area.

“There were two women who came to the victim’s aid immediately after and I would particularly like to speak to them as they may hold vital information.

“The incident has left the victim quite distressed and we don’t want this happening to any other woman in Oxford.

“Finally, I want to warn cyclists that loose bags in your basket are not safe. Please make sure they cannot be easily snatched by an opportunist thief. Don’t use rear baskets, use a front basket if you have to, and ideally not at all – I would recommend a rucksack or panniers.”

It was the fourth incident of passengers leaning of cars trying to steal bags from pedestrians and cyclists in Oxford in the past three weeks.

Det Con Spencer said he was keeping an open mind on whether this incident was linked to the others.

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