CHRISTMAS shoppers, day-trippers and commuters are being urged not to leave valuables in their cars following a spate of break-ins, which police believe are being carried out by the same group of thieves.

Thieves have smashed their way into 15 cars in South Oxfordshire in the past two weeks, making off with belongings such as handbags, bank cards, laptops and sat-navs.

The vehicles were all parked in rural areas, including the popular Lewknor Turn layby on the B4009, used by shoppers and commuters who catch the coach to London.

Thieves have also targeted car parks and beauty spots in and around Thame and Watlington, close to the M40.

Among the break-ins were two cars broken into at the Lambert Arms in London Road, Watlington, on Friday, December 3 at about midnight. A black Volkswagen Passat had its windows smashed and a laptop and sat-nav stolen, and a black Mercedes ML 350 was broken into and an iPod, laptop, clothes and sunglasses taken.

Among vehicles targeted around the Lewknor Turn was a white Toyota Estima, which had tools and CDs taken on November 30.

Thefts were also reported at the Belfry Hotel at Milton Common. Two cars were targeted on Friday, December 3.

A silver Toyota Yaris had its windows smashed and a phone and handbag containing bank cards, ID cards and cash taken, and a laptop and handbag were stolen from a black BMW 118D.

Two cars were broken into on the A40 at Milton Common on Monday, November 29. A silver Vauxhall Vectra had its windows smashed, but nothing taken, while food, clothes and a disabled badge were stolen from a blue BMW 320.

Pc James Wood, of South Oxfordshire’s Priority Crime Team, said: “We take auto crime very seriously and are utilising a number of tactics to tackle it, such as increased patrols in the area.

“In all of these crimes, however, opportunistic thieves have taken advantage of the situation.

“What we need to do is to highlight how unwise it is to leave valuables on display in your car.

“Make sure you take them with you and properly secure you vehicle, otherwise you are inviting criminals to commit crime – and simply making it easier for them.

“We need to ensure that when people park their vehicles in rural areas and open car parks they take all their valuable items out of the car to prevent them from being stolen.”

Pc Ian Leese, based at Didcot, said: “This is quite unusual and it’s something of a concern to us. We are maintaining high-visibility uniformed and also covert patrols.”

He said no arrests had yet been made in relation to the thefts.

Anyone with information about the break-ins should call Pc Leese or Pc Wood on 08458 505505 or the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.