Almost 500 fewer homes in Oxfordshire have fallen victim to burglars this year.

There has been a 32 per cent drop in break-ins across Oxfordshire since April 1, compared to the same period in 2006.

So far there have been 1,054 burglaries in Oxfordshire compared with 1,548 last year - a drop in 494.

The biggest falls have been in Oxford, where the number of burglaries fell 37 per cent from 799 to 504, and the Vale of White Horse - which includes Abingdon and Wantage - which fell by 38 per cent from 142 to 87.

There has been a drop of 45 in Cherwell district, which includes Bicester and Banbury, while the number of burglaries in west Oxfordshire, such as Chipping Norton and Witney, fell by 32.

South Oxfordshire, including Wallingford and Didcot, saw break-ins fall by 83.

Chief Supt Shaun Morley, Oxfordshire commander, said: "Oxfordshire has seen a significant decrease in burglary across each of the five local police areas.

"This must in some part be due to the hard work and commitment of my officers and police staff who work tirelessly to target prolific offenders and investigate burglary.

"We want to ensure that we don't see a seasonal rise in burglaries this time and that this downward trend continues."

Mr Morley added much of the success was down to pursuing burglars and getting them to undertake drugs programmes to kick their habits.

Insp Colin Paine, head of priority crime in Oxford, said: "In addition to the normal police business of arresting offenders, the burglary team is going one step further by actively making Oxford an uncomfortable place for burglars to live - conducting home visits, phoning them and even sending them birthday cards to remind them not to offend."

Public meetings and drop-in centres are being held by police across the county to raise awareness of beating the burglars.

Police are focusing on burglary throughout November because it is this time of year which traditionally sees a rise in the number of burglaries.

It is believed thieves take advantage of the clocks going back and the longer, darker evenings, and they also know people are starting to store presents in their homes in the run up to Christmas.

Pensioners Mary Vickers, 74, and husband Frank, 83, were burgled earlier this year when £400 was stolen from their home in Woodstock.

Mrs Vickers said: "Hearing this makes us feel a bit better, definitely. It is good to hear that burglaries have dropped. Being burgled is terrifying, but life has to go on."

Last month, police figures showed an overall drop of almost 500 crimes in Oxford between April and September, compared with the same period last year.

The number of burglaries fell by a third, but in the city, there was a rise in violent crime, particularly wounding, which increased by about 30 per cent. There was also a small rise in assaults.