Brazen thieves raided a row of garages in a quiet Kidlington cul-de-sac - just yards from two police stations.

About 15 garages in Poplar Close were stripped of lead flashings - which are seals on roofs - on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights last week.

Each time, they escaped without being spotted, despite the raids taking place only about 100m from both Kidlington Police Station and Thames Valley Police headquarters.

Some residents think the thieves returned on Sunday night, but were disturbed.

Already this year, police have counted up to 200 similar metal raids on homes, churches, pubs and village halls across Oxfordshire.

Karyn Evans, 42, of Poplar Close, said: "I'm extremely annoyed at the cheek that they came back night after night.

"But I'm even more annoyed I have not seen a single police patrol car here since it began. I have got a huge hole in my garage roof now and it's going to flood."

Neighbour Fred Toon, 28, said: "If it rains, our garages will get flooded. Our road has been targeted again and again for some reason.

"They came back about three times so they have taken quite a risk. The last crime I can remember by these garages was a bike stolen about seven years ago."

Another resident, Susan Brockall, 49, said she reported the theft from her garage roof to police on Friday morning, but the thieves still returned twice more over the weekend without being caught.

She said: "I think it is disgusting. What have we done to deserve this? I've had no visit from the police and I think this is pretty low down on their priorities."

Mary May, 47, said: "I'm really shocked and surprised. There are two police stations just across the road."

Police spokesman Kate Smith said officers received at least seven reports of lead theft from garages in Poplar Close over the weekend.

But she confirmed that by this morning, no officer had visited the homes and garages because of other priorities.

Residents put the figure at more than 15 thefts, but believe some may not have been reported.

Police said they were now visiting the owners of the affected garages.

Pc Stephen Hitchins, of Kidlington Police, said: "We have not yet visited all the victims but we will be making visits and taking statements.

"But because we haven't does not mean we are not doing anything. We have to make priorities in order of severity."

Call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

The raids follow eight separate metal thefts from homes, a pub and church in the county in just two weeks.

For the first time, police have begun collating the number of metal thefts in Oxfordshire.

Pc Jim McGuinness said: "I know in the past 12 months metal thefts have gone up. Since January, we've probably had about 200 reports that I am aware of and it's likely to be more. They are all being investigated like any other crime."

The spate of metal thefts is being blamed on organised criminals across England who are believed to steal valuable metal and sell it on in the lucrative scrap trade.

West Midlands Police revealed they have arrested more than 250 people in connection with metal thefts in the past two months.