BURGLARS broke into three houses in Stockham Way, Wantage, while the occupants were asleep.

In the first incident, thieves entered through the rear door of the house between 10.30pm last Tuesday and 7am Wednesday.

They stole a handbag containing bank cards and the keys to a red Dodge Caliber, which was then stolen from the drive. The car was later found abandoned nearby in St Mary's Way.

In the second burglary, a handbag, house keys and the keys to a Yamaha XT660 motorcycle were taken. The motorcycle, registration LC05 ONJ, was then stolen from the driveway and has not yet been found.

The residents of the third house did not realise they had been burgled until that morning, when a digital camera belonging to them was found on the road and returned to them by a neighbour. Again, the burglary took place between 10.15pm and 7am.

Det Con Chris Leech, of Abingdon CID, said: "The burglars in this case were obviously intent on finding a vehicle to steal.

"It seems the Dodge car was dumped pretty quickly as it did not have much petrol in it.

"The victims in all three cases have been left shaken and upset at the thought of these thieves being in their homes as they slept.

"I would like to hear from anyone who was in the area and saw any suspicious activity or who sees the outstanding motorbike. I would also like to take the opportunity to remind people that it can take just seconds for a burglar to enter your home and make off with your valuables.

"There are simple precautions that you can take to prevent becoming a victim of this type of crime. Always ensure your property is secure, lock all doors and remove the keys, close windows and don't leave valuables or keys in visible or obvious places."