Burglaries and thefts of motor vehicles have increased in South East Oxford.

Recently-released police figures for the three months between July and September show the number of domestic burglaries in Blackbird Leys, Littlemore and Rose Hill rose by 70 per cent compared with the same three months last year.

Thefts of motor vehicles also increased by 48 per cent — to 40 — over the same period.

Overall, analysis of 11 types of offence showed crime was up by six per cent in the area compared with the same months last year.

Insp Andy Storey admitted the figures were disappointing, but said statistics showed crime normally peaked in the hot summer months.

The figures, which were revealed at a meeting of Oxford City Council’s south east area committee on Monday, are in marked contrast to statistics for the same crimes, which were released three months ago.

Those statistics showed an 11 per cent fall in crime for April to June compared with the same period last year.

The most recent figures showed there were 46 domestic burglaries between July 1 and the end of September, compared with 27 in the same three months last year.

Car crime was up by eight per cent to 79 offences, while woundings increased from two to three.

Assault without injury increased from 54 to 68 — a rise of 24 per cent — while domestic violence reports rose from 25 to 38.

Theft from vehicles, personal robbery, assault with injury, criminal damage and antisocial behaviour all fell by between four and 21 per cent.

However, all 11 crime categories — apart from criminal damage and woundings — were up on figures for April to June this year.

Mr Storey said: “While the figures are a bit dismaying, people just need to be a bit more careful.

“July to September are the summer months and traditionally there is a peak in all crime categories. Also, the figure was a drop of 11 per cent on the previous period, so the actual overall increase is quite small.

“It is encouraging the figures are relatively low overall.”

Mr Storey said one juvenile who was found to be responsible for the majority of car thefts in the area had been sent to a young offender’s centre for 10 months.

He expected there to be further arrests soon and said officers had been redirected to trouble spots.

Extra patrols had been mounted to tackle crime and reassure those in areas where people were worried.