Taxi owners in east Oxford have fallen prey to a spate of break-ins.

City of Oxford Licensed Taxicab Association treasurer Sajjad Malik, left, with taxi driver Mohammed Latif, who was robbed in Iffley Road

More than 12 taxis in the Cowley Road area have had their windows smashed in the past week.

Ansar Butt, of Temple Road, Oxford, found the driver's window of his cab damaged at 10.45pm on Monday, February 9, in Cowley Marsh Road.

He said: "There was no money in the taxi, but it will cost me £70 to have the window repaired and £100 in lost earnings." Mr Butt had a temporary window fitted until the cab could be repaired on Wednesday, February 11,but the vehicle was out of action until new glass was fitted.

Taxi driver Bashir Ahmed also had his cab broken into. He said: "I finished my shift at 4.30am on Sunday, February 8,morning and left my cab in Litchfield Road.

"My son woke me at 8.30am to tell me the taxi had been broken into.

"I was very cross to find broken glass was everywhere and someone had been through all my paperwork.

"None of the taxi drivers leave money in the cabs so I don't know why anyone would break in."

Alan Woodward, of the City of Oxford Licensed Taxicab Association, said: "I have had 10 or 12 taxi break-ins reported to me in the last week. Most of the incidents have been off the Cowley Road."

He added: "We already have a scheme where taxicab owners work with the police.

"We will adapt the scheme to include some kind of method of surveillance for taxis."

Thames Valley Police spokesman Lucy Ferguson said officers were investigating the matter.