Bogus allegations of robbery waste police time and will be treated as serious offences, detectives have warned.

Oxford police urge anyone who has been robbed or mugged to get in touch with them immediately.

But the city's robbery figures are inflated by false reports of mobile phones and other property being stolen to make insurance claims, officers believe.

A 27-year-old man has been released on police bail until May 15 after he was arrested on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice and wasting police time.

The man had described two offenders he claimed had shoved him to the ground at the junction of George Street and Cornmarket at 1am on April 19, stealing his wallet and mobile phone.

But after studying CCTV footage, and checking bank and mobile phone details, officers became suspicious and arrested the man. He admitted losing his property in Moods nightclub in George Street.

Dc Emma Garside, of Oxford police, said: "Robbery allegations are taken very seriously.

"When we find out an allegation is false, that is a criminal offence which we will also take extremely seriously.

Last year, Ch Supt Dave McWhirter, area commander of Oxford police, said false robbery reports made to defraud insurance companies inflated the city's crime figures.

The introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard a year ago means all incidents, whether from victims, witnesses or third parties, are now recorded -- even if police do not investigate. The Home Office admitted robbery statistics would include some made-up claims intended to cheat insurers.

Anyone whose mobile phone has been stolen does not need a crime report number to make an insurance claim.

Owners need to give their phone's 15-digit IMEI number, which can be obtained by pressing *#06# on the key pad.

Mobile phones can now be blocked on all networks, rendering them useless to offenders in the same way as stolen credit cards can be cancelled. Call 08701 123123.