A PLEA has been made for a community to rally together after a spate of break-ins and vandalism.

A burglar stole £1,000 from Donnington Doorstep Family Centre, East Oxford, early on Friday last week - the latest in a long list of incidents in the area.

Over the past two weeks there have been three burnt out cars - one crashed in to the Donnington Community Centre; attacks to security lights; vandalism in the playground and human excrement smeared about the area.

And last month, a three-year-old boy walked in to the family centre carrying a used needle, which he found on a bench outside.

Anna Thorne, pictured, manager of the family centre in Townsend Square, said: "We are here for everyone but it's hard to feel that way when it seems some in the community are working against us."

Earlier this month, a burglar smashed through the front door then broke three doors before ripping open a filing cabinet and money box and stealing £1,000 from the community cafe and petty cash.

Only two days before a burnt out car had been dumped outside the centre, and a burglar attempted to break in through the roof.

Ms Thorne added: "We feel the burglary must have been done by someone who has used the centre and knew where the money is kept, which is upsetting. We need to get everyone together."

Police are not linking any of the offences.