Three students are living in fear at their Oxford home - after being burgled twice in three weeks.

Helena Mensah, 20, Temi Adenugba, 20, and Charlene Kandiyero, 19, only moved into their Cowley home in early September before starting their second year at Oxford Brookes University.

But already they want to move out because they are afraid the house is being targeted.

Miss Mensah said: "We're really scared. We're fearing for our safety. What if it happens again but next time they assault one of us too?

"I always thought this was a safe area but now I'm not so sure.

"Every time I come home I'm worried about what I might find. I'm scared to be alone."

She added: "One robbery could be bad luck, but two in such a short space of time scares me. Once they find out you're an easy target, they could keep coming back. We do not want to live like that."

The first burglary happened on October 8 when Miss Adenugba was at home.

She heard someone come in the front door but because she heard keys, she just assumed it was one of her housemates.

They later realised the intruder had used a key to get into the house and had gone into Miss Mensah's room and stolen her laptop computer.

The women reported the theft to the police, their landlords changed the locks and they thought little more of it - until last Sunday when Miss Mensah returned to see the front door had been forced open.

She said: "Straight away, I knew something was wrong.

"I went in and checked the house and saw that Temi's laptop was missing."

They have asked the landlords to replace the front door because they feel it is not secure and does not shut properly.

But Miss Mensah said: "They aren't prepared to change it because they have already paid for the locks to be changed.

"If they're not prepared to do that, I would prefer to leave."

Steven Singh owns the house with father Amarjit and brother Bobby.

He said: "We've seen the girls leaving the front door open so have wondered whether the burglaries are down to their own negligence. We have changed the locks. There are two front doors, both of which close properly and are secure. There's nothing wrong with them.

"If the girls want to leave, that's fine, but they have to give a month's notice, as stated in their contracts.

"Even though it's our house, we have paid a letting agency to deal with these things."

Real Letting in St Clements, Oxford, said it is the landlords' responsibility to replace doors and locks.

Thames Valley Police spokesman Kate Smith said both incidents were being investigated.

She added: "We are getting an increasing number of laptop thefts, particularly at student accommodation. We would like to remind people to keep them out of sight."

Anyone with any information regarding either incident is asked to call Thames Valley Police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.