OXFORD has seen a series of weekend thefts, amid warnings of an autumn burglary spike.

Police say a Ford Transit was stolen from Headington between 8pm on Sunday and 7am on Monday, while burglaries took place in Hamilton Road, Summertown, on Friday and Jack Argent Close, Blackbird Leys, on Monday morning.

A handbag containing bank cards and cash was stolen in the latter incident, in which police say the offender gained entry to the property via an insecure front door.

A home owner in Summertown was luckier, with the alarm being triggered and nothing believed to have been stolen.

Police said the offender(s) gained entry to the back garden, where they climbed onto a wheelie bin and also used a ladder from the garden to access the roof, before forcing a bedroom window open using an 'implement'.

In Headington, the grey van (registration number YD57N) was stolen from Cholesbury Grange.

Police said burglaries increase as the nights darken and suggested timed lights.

The force said: "Every autumn burglary offences tend to increase. The darker evenings are thought to help would-be criminals identify homes where the occupiers are yet to come home. This is a really easy problem to fix - simply set your home up with automatic lights.

"One of the simplest ways is to buy a timer switch and connect a bright bulb in both an upstairs and a downstairs room lamp - not just in the hall or landing."

To provide information, call 101, quoting reference numbers 43180345173 (Headington), 43180344869 (Summertown) or 43180345130 (Blackbird Leys) respectively.

Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.