POLICE refused to go to a car park and investigate a dozen cars which had been broken into.

Thieves punched the locks and broke windows of about 12 cars between 9pm and 10pm on Thursday while the owners were playing football at Tilsley Park in Abingdon.

Mobile phones and wallets were stolen but after nine motorists reported the break-ins, police refused to go to the car park to investigate, instead asking drivers to go down to Abingdon police station so the vehicles could be dusted for fingerprints.

Victim Paul Holligan , 30, said he was dismayed police would not come out.

Thames Valley Police initially said officers did not go because there were no witnesses or CCTV, and that it was raining so any forensic evidence would be washed away.

But owners confirmed it was not raining when the thieves struck.

Asked for an explanation and what other crimes were going on in Abingdon at the time, police spokesman Claire Gourlay refused to say.

Miss Gourlay added: "The officers assessed the situation and when it's things like that, because there was no CCTV, that's how they prioritise their jobs.

"They did put out a traffic message so that police would be aware of the Ford (seen leaving the car park at the time)."

Mr Holligan was playing football with local team the Abingdon Exiles when thieves broke into his three-year-old Volkswagen Beetle and stole £650 worth of his personal possessions.

Mr Holligan said: "It wasn't raining at the time and it surprised me that the police didn't come out as obviously there are forensics that they can take from inside the car, the thieves must have rummaged through the items in the glove box.

"When there are that number of cars broken into you would expect the police to make an appearance. It's disappointing."

Anyone with any information should contact Pc Ben Peach at Abingdon police station on 08458 505505 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.