A robber dressed as a skeleton snatched a woman’s handbag and yobs launched a rocket into a house during Halloween, police in Oxford revealed last night.

There were 12 reports of trouble linked to Halloween — down on previous years — after police sent out extra patrols on Friday.

Trouble included a robbery in Southmoor Road, Jericho, at 8.45pm by two men in Halloween costumes who stole £35 cash, bank cards and a digital camera.

A firework was thrown into a house in Leiden Road, Wood Farm, at 8pm but no-one was injured and there was little damage.

Elsewhere bangers were thrown at homes in Dashwood Road, Rose Hill, and fireworks let off in Union Street car park in East Oxford. But trouble was down from 15 incidents in 2007 and 19 in 2006.

Insp Phil Standish, head of operations, said the police had put in a lot of effort into raising awareness before the festive date.