A THIEF strolled into an amusements arcade before pinching cash hidden in a safe.

The perpetrator targeted the store at Cowley's Templars Shopping Centre on Tuesday, Thames Valley Police said.

Officers rushed to Cashino after reports the thief had made off with the money just after 9am.

Witnesses spotted security guards 'running all over the place' during what they believed to be a robbery, while one man told the Oxford Mail a woman was allegedly locked in the toilet.

But force spokeswoman Holly Claydon-Bevan confirmed the offender was unarmed during the heist and officers were investigating the crime as theft.

The suspect fled in the direction of Blackbird Leys after setting his sights on the store, the force revealed.

Shopping centre manager Owen Acland confirmed no one was hurt during the incident.

The offender was wearing light blue jeans and a black rucksack, as well as a dark grey jumper, which had a lighter trim around its hood.

The white man, who is believed to have light-coloured short hair, is also thought to be about 50-years-old.

He is between 5ft 3ins and 5ft 7ins, and of medium build, Ms Claydon-Bevan added.

She said: "Investigations are ongoing and officers would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident."

Call 101, quoting incident 272 of May 9, with information.