POLICE are appealing for contractors and workmen in Oxford to keep tools in their vans secure after a series of thefts in the city.

Since late July there have been 14 incidents where tools have been stolen from vans during the day. The vans were either parked with their doors unlocked as their owners worked nearby or the door locks were punctured and tools taken.

The thefts have occurred in Barton, Headington, Marston, Rose Hill and Blackbird Leys.

Nick Gilbert, crime reduction adviser, said: "Tools are expensive to replace and the inconvenience of having them stolen also has an economic impact on someone's work that they then can't do.

"Tools should always be left somewhere secure and the van should be locked even if you are repeatedly going back out to it. It is also a good idea to clearly mark the tools with the company name and contact details. This makes them a lot harder to sell on.

"We know that some tools are sold on building sites and I would appeal to people who are offered tools that they are suspicious about to let us know about it. I would appeal to people who would maybe think about buying tools under these circumstances to think about how they would feel if their livelihood had been taken away."

Det Sgt Steve Raffield, investigating the series of thefts, said: "All the thefts have been quite brazen and have happened during the day. Many of the thefts have occurred when the workmen have been back and forth from their vans.

"There are two cars that have been seen in the vicinity of several thefts and police are keen for any information on these. One is a metallic green Ford Escort and the other is a white Rover 600. If anyone has any suspicions about a car fitting this description that they know of I would appeal for them to get in touch."

Anyone with information should contact Det Sgt Raffield, at Oxford police station, via 0845 8 505 505 or call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.