Crooks burgled or attempted to burgle 10 houses in a two-week crime spree.

Police have warned people to remain vigilant over the Easter weekend and called on neighbours to look out for each other after a number of the crimes were interrupted by members of the public.

All of the offences happened in Oxford, Botley, and Cumnor Hill, with the first on Friday, March 31.

Between 10.30am and 6.30pm offenders broke into a house in Hamilton Road, Summertown, through a rear window and ransacked the property before making off with jewellery and electronics.

On Monday, April 3, burglars smashed a window of a house in Delamare Way, Cumnor, and stole jewellery and a watch.

This was followed by a burglary between 4pm and 8pm on Tuesday, April 4, when four people tried to get into a house in Rothafield Road in North Oxford through a second floor window, but were disturbed by a neighbour before they could steal anything.

Between March 27 and April 4 offenders gained entry to a house in Arnold's Way, Botley, and pinched several watches.

An attempted burglary between 11.30pm on Saturday, April 8, and Sunday, April 9, ended in failure when would-be thieves failed to break into a home in Banbury Road, Oxford.

But burglars who targeted a house in Woodstock Road, Oxford, between 5pm on Monday and 5pm on Tuesday did manage to get inside by smashing a door.

Despite ransacking the property they left without stealing anything.

On the same Tuesday between 9.30am and 11.55am offenders gained entry to a house in Scholar Place, Cumnor, by forcing a door open. They made off with cash, jewellery and a purse.

Between midnight and 10.40am that morning three offenders tried to get into a house in Woodstock Road through a first floor window but were disturbed by a neighbour and fled without stealing anything.

On Wednesday cash was stolen when burglars broke into a house in Plantation Road, North Oxford, between 8.30am and 6.30pm.

Between 4.30pm that day and 7.15am yesterday there was another attempted burglary in Davenant Road, North Oxford, but nothing was stolen.

PC Olivia Mcklewright said: "

“We are appealing for information following this series of burglaries in Oxford and South and Vale. These offenders have been gaining access to some houses via windows on the top floor.

 “A number of these burglaries have been interrupted by members of the public who have called us we have been able to respond quickly.

 “If you have any information about these burglaries of if you see anything suspicious please contact me via the non-emergency number 101. If you witness a crime in action please dial 999.."

Oxford city commander Supt Joe Kidman said: "

Burglary is down by 23 per cent in Oxford City in the last year, and we are enlisting the support of local residents to prevent offences wherever we can.

“I want to encourage residents to take sensible precautions so their homes don’t look unoccupied while they are away.

"Good neighbours play a big part in this, and we are grateful for a number of calls that alerted us so that we could respond before offenders got in.

“This is an active investigation and I appeal to everyone to call us if they see anything suspicious."