Martin Scarrott bought six CCTV cameras to protect his Barton home and family from crime.

But four of the cameras were vandalised last December.

The latest police statistics show car theft, arson, and robbery are all on the rise in the estate as crime rose seven per cent in 2011/12 – from 371 to 396.

Mr Scarrott, 47, said he bought the cameras three years ago after his wife Debbie was assaulted.

The couple, who have lived in North Way for eight years, featured in the Oxford Mail in 2010 when a thief stole a Help for Heroes collection box from outside their flat.

The pair have also had intruders climb through windows.

Mr Scarrott said: “We have wanted to move because of the situation.”

The most common crimes in the neighbourhood from April 2011 to March this year were criminal damage to vehicles, assault without injury, and domestic burglary.

Serious stealing crime, including robberies and burglaries, is up 14 per cent, from 51 to 58.

Stuart Burbidge, 59, who lives off Fettiplace Road, said: “I have lived here to five years now and my impression is that it is getting worse. I am careful about when and where I go out.”

But he added: “I’d heard about Barton before I came here but it’s not half has bad as people had said to me. It’s probably not worse than a lot of areas.”

He had a car window smashed three years ago, and said he also suspected a drug dealer was working close by.

A Spar shop worker, who did not want to be named, said drugs and antisocial behaviour were problems.

He said youngsters playing football had broken a shop window last month, adding: “It happens all the time. Crime is going up all the time.”

Insp Marc Tarbit said seven per cent was only a slight increase and crime had remained more or less stable in the estate. And he said things were much improved from 2010 when 479 crimes were recorded.

He added: “One of the key issues for the local policing team is tackling antisocial behaviour.

“A few individuals can have a significant impact on the quality of lives of many.”

l Constantly updated crime statistics at street-by-street level are available at oxfordmail.co.uk/li