Police are appealing for witnesses following nine burglaries in the Oxford area during the past three weeks.

Houses in Rose Hill, Risinghurst, Cowley and Headington were targeted, and all broken into in a similar way – by smashing a rear window or patio door.

In each burglary, thieves only stole expensive jewellery and left other valuable items.

In the latest burglary, thieves used an item found in the garden to smash the back window of a property on Fortnam Close, Headington, sometime between 8.20am on Monday and 9.20pm yesterday. A substantial amount of jewellery was stolen from the address, whilst the burglars ignored other valuable items such as a laptop and television.

PC David Kuttner, of the Oxford Burglary Team, said: “We believe these burglaries are linked as they have broken into the addresses in a similar way and they have deliberately targeted jewellery.

“I’d like to appeal for any witnesses to come forward and urge residents of Oxford to be vigilant. Please report any suspicious people or vehicles in your area.

"Make sure you check your home security – do not leave anything in your back garden that could help a burglar break in, such as tools or wheelie bins.

“Professional burglars tend not risk travelling with tools for fear of being arrested for ‘going equipped’. They instead rely on their victims having left insecure tools in their back garden – don’t give them that opportunity.”

If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact Thames Valley Police on 0845 8 505 505, the 24-hour Thames Valley Police non-emergency number. If you don’t want to speak to police or give your name, please call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.