Oxford United's players have learned the hard way that, wherever you are, you have to be on your guard against thieves.

So too did an elderly woman in a mobility scooter and a teenager who had his phone stolen after being befriended by youths in the city centre at the weekend.

The changing rooms at the Kassam Stadium may seem secure enough to leave belongings, but they have proved as vulnerable as anywhere else.

Property worth thousands of pounds, including expensive watches, was snatched as the players trained.

Security at the stadium clearly needs to be tightened.

Incidents like those described on page two of today's Mail are, thankfully, not the norm. But they do provide us with a timely reminder.

It is that unless something is nailed or screwed down, padlocked or shut away, the chances are that it will end up in the hands of a thief.