Police in south Oxfordshire want to help householders stem a tide of thefts from garden sheds.

Alison Smith, crime reduction officer for Didcot, said sheds were seen as easy targets for thieves because they often lacked basic security.

Sheds and garages also usually contained property that could be sold or tools which could be used to force entry into the owner's home.

Police hope to curb shed and garage burglaries by offering security advice on May 10, at the village hall, East Hagbourne, and at Wyvale Garden Centre, Chilton, near Didcot.

A police spokesman said: "Residents of New Road, East Hagbourne, have received a crime prevention pack -- Coded for Keeps -- and a permanent ultra violet marker to postcode their property."

Discount vouchers for home security products from the Focus DIY store chain accompany the packs.

Residents with sheds and garages are advised to:

Lock away tools and equipment

Fit locks on gates and doors

Postcode or mark all property

Install security lighting. Windows can be fitted with a grille or, as a cheaper alternative, chicken wire, in order to slow a thief down.

A shed alarm can also be installed.