Thieves broke into six cars in just 24 hours in the Chipping Norton area.

They targeted a blue Mazda in the town's New Street car park on Wednesday between 8.45am and 5.35pm but nothing was stolen.

Later that night, thieves also broke in to a silver Citroen Picasso in Hill Rise, Great Rollright, and stole a handbag containing a chequebook and credit cards.

A green Volvo V70 was also broken into in Main Street, Over Norton, and chef's knives and cooking equipment were stolen.

In Quarhill Close, Over Norton, a handbag, briefcase and number of Bibles were stolen from a black Citroen Picasso and a bag was stolen from a red Renault Espace.

And yesterday, between 1.45am and 2.15am, shotgun cartridges were stolen from a green Mitsubishi Shogun in the High Street, Great Rollright.

Det Sgt Craig Kirby said: "I would like to appeal for any residents who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the villages around Chipping Norton to come forward.

"We are actively investigating these crimes, but we really need help with motorists taking responsibility for their own property.

"There is only so much the police can do to prevent these sorts of crimes taking place, especially in remote areas, and motorists need to do more to stop themselves becoming victims of crime.

"Villages are safe places to live, but thieves travel through the countryside looking for easy pickings. It takes seconds to open an unlocked door and steal something, and not much longer to put a brick through your window.

"Don't leave anything valuable on display or anything to make someone think you may have something valuable hidden in the car: it will be enough reason for a thief to try their luck and smash your window, causing hundreds of pounds of damage."

Anyone with information should call 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.