Bicester Rural

Burglary Crime Prevention and Reduction Advice

Location Focus:
•Middleton Stoney
•Somerton
•Lower Heyford
•Heyford Park

This priority reflects ongoing concerns about burglary, attempted break ins and suspicious activity in rural villages, where the impact on residents can be particularly significant. We will publish monthly updates outlining activity and progress.

Why This Priority Was Chosen

Residents and parish councils raised repeated concerns during the consultation about:
•Suspicious vehicles and unfamiliar persons in quiet rural lanes
•Outbuilding and shed break ins
•Theft of tools, bicycles, and agricultural equipment
•Concerns about vulnerability of isolated homes and farms
•Requests for clearer crime prevention advice and increased visibility

Recent crime reports and intelligence submissions from the public support these concerns, particularly around the Heyford area and outlying villages.

Preventing burglary and protecting rural communities remains a key priority for the Bicester Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team. We continue to focus on visible policing, crime prevention and partnership working to help keep our villages, farms and rural businesses safe.

Over recent months, the team has been conducting regular high-visibility patrols across the rural area. Many residents will hopefully have seen our distinctive marked 4x4 vehicle out and about in villages and rural locations throughout the district. These patrols are intended to both reassurance to our communities and a visible deterrent to those considering committing crime.

Our officers and PCSOs are always happy to stop and speak with members of the public. If you see us whilst we are out on patrol, please feel free to come and say hello, raise any concerns you may have, discuss local issues or ask for crime prevention advice. The information we receive from residents plays a vital role in helping us understand local concerns and focus our efforts where they are needed most.
The team has also been working closely with Thames Valley Police's Rural Crime Prevention and Reduction Advisor, who has already visited the majority of farms across the area to provide specialist crime prevention support. This has included the marking of tools, machinery and other valuable equipment using SelectaDNA and Datatag technology, helping to deter theft, assist with property identification and increase the chances of recovering stolen items.

This work has been well received by the farming community, and we have already identified further locations across the area where additional property marking events will be delivered in the coming months.

Community engagement also remains an important part of our approach. PCSO Louise Beaumont and PCSO Ray Kennard have been holding a number of Have Your Say events across the rural area, giving residents the opportunity to discuss local concerns, receive crime prevention advice and learn more about the work being undertaken by the Neighbourhood Team. Further events are planned later this month, and we would encourage residents to come along and meet the team.
Whether you want to discuss a concern, seek advice on securing your home, outbuildings or rural business, or simply find out more about local policing activity, the team will be pleased to speak with you.

You Said, We Did

You said: Burglary and rural crime prevention remain important concerns for our villages and farming communities.

We did: Increased high-visibility patrols across rural Bicester, utilised the neighbourhood 4x4 vehicle to provide reassurance and deter offenders, worked alongside Thames Valley Police's Rural Crime Prevention and Reduction Advisor to deliver SelectaDNA and Datatag property marking across local farms, identified further locations for future crime prevention visits, and continued engaging with communities through regular Have Your Say events.

If you have concerns about burglary, suspicious activity or rural crime, please report it via 101 or online at www.thamesvalley.police.uk. In an emergency, or if a crime is in progress, always call 999.

Every report helps us build intelligence, identify crime patterns and protect our rural communities.

Drug Dealing and Drug Misuse
Following a public consultation and online survey during May 2026, the community has identified drug dealing and drug misuse as a priority concern within:
•Ambrosden
•Arncott
•Gravenhill
•Wendlebury
•Kingsmere

Residents have raised concerns about suspected drug supply, visible drug use, and the associated impact on anti social behaviour, safety, and community confidence. In response, the Bicester Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team will deliver a targeted, intelligence led response over the next three months.

Feedback from residents and partners highlighted:
•Suspected street level drug dealing in residential areas and open spaces
•Drug misuse in public places, impacting families and vulnerable people
•Links between drug activity and anti social behaviour, disorder, and exploitation
•Concerns about repeat locations and individuals
•A desire for visible policing, enforcement, and safeguarding support

Tackling drug dealing and drug-related activity remains a priority for the Bicester Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team.

We continue to act on information provided by local communities and carry out targeted patrols in areas where concerns have been raised.

Officers have been conducting regular patrols at locations identified by the public as areas of concern. Of particular note is Langford Lane, Wendlebury, where we frequently patrol during the times highlighted by residents. These patrols are designed to disrupt criminal activity, gather intelligence and provide reassurance to the local community.

Last week, several individuals were reported as having driven to the area and causing disruption. Officers were dispatched and located those involved, who were subsequently spoken to regarding their behaviour. Whilst no drugs were found during the encounter, the information provided by local residents enabled officers to respond quickly and take positive action.

We will continue to conduct regular disruption patrols in the area and monitor any further reports.

In addition to addressing suspected drug-related activity, we are mindful of concerns around the anti-social use of vehicles often associated with gatherings in rural locations.

Where appropriate, we will consider the use of powers under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 in relation to vehicles being used in a manner that causes alarm, distress or annoyance. We are also working closely with colleagues from our Roads Policing Unit to address concerns relating to drug driving and other road traffic offences reported by the community.

Officers have also increased patrols in and around the Ambrosden and Arncott areas to provide visible reassurance, deter criminality and engage with local residents. These additional patrols allow us to gather information, address community concerns and maintain a visible policing presence in locations where it is most needed.

The information we receive from the public remains one of the most important tools in tackling drug-related activity. Community intelligence helps us identify hotspots, understand local concerns and direct patrols and resources to the right places at the right times. Even if an incident may seem minor, reporting it can help build a wider intelligence picture and contribute to future enforcement activity.

You Said, We Did

You said: There were concerns about suspected drug dealing, suspicious vehicles and associated anti-social behaviour in parts of rural Bicester.

We did: Increased patrols in identified hotspot locations including Langford Lane, Wendlebury, responded to reports of suspicious activity, disrupted individuals causing concern, increased patrols in the Ambrosden and Arncott areas, and continue to work with Roads Policing colleagues to address reports of drug driving and anti-social vehicle use.

If you witness suspicious activity, suspected drug dealing, drug misuse or anti-social use of vehicles, please report it to Thames Valley Police via 101 or online at www.thamesvalley.police.uk. If a crime is in progress or there is an immediate risk to life or property, call 999.

Every report from the public helps us build intelligence, focus our patrols and keep our rural communities safe.

Trailer theft and Plant/machinery Theft

Following a public consultation and online survey during May 2026, the rural community has identified trailer theft and plant/machinery theft as a key priority across the Bicester Rural area.

Farmers, landowners, and rural businesses have highlighted the significant financial and operational impact of these offences.

In response, the Bicester Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team will focus on prevention, intelligence-led enforcement, and partnership working over the next three months to reduce offending and protect rural livelihoods.

Engagement with the rural community identified:
•Ongoing theft of trailers, agricultural plant, and machinery
•Offenders targeting isolated and rural locations, often overnight
•Use of organised methods, including towing equipment away quickly
•Low reporting in some cases, limiting intelligence development
•A strong desire for visible policing presence and preventative advice

Preventing trailer theft and protecting agricultural equipment remains a key priority for the Bicester Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team.
We recognise the significant impact that the theft of trailers, plant machinery and farming equipment can have on rural businesses, farmers and landowners, and we continue to work alongside specialist policing teams and partners to reduce opportunities for offenders.

The Neighbourhood Team has continued its programme of high-visibility patrols across the rural area, supported by a strong partnership approach involving Thames Valley Police's Rural Crime Prevention and Reduction Advisor (RCPRA) and the Rural Crime Taskforce. By sharing intelligence, identifying emerging trends and targeting crime prevention activity, we are working together to make our rural communities a more difficult environment for criminals to operate within.

A particular focus has been on preventing theft through effective property marking and security measures. Our Rural Crime Prevention and Reduction Advisor, Kay Andrews, has now visited the majority of farms across the Bicester Rural area, providing tailored crime prevention advice and carrying out property marking on trailers, plant machinery and other valuable equipment.

Using SelectaDNA and Datatag products, trailers, plant machinery and other valuable assets have been forensically marked, making them easier to identify and significantly reducing their attractiveness to thieves. These technologies help deter offenders, support investigations and increase the likelihood of stolen property being recovered and returned to its rightful owners.

This proactive approach, combined with the work of local officers, rural communities and the Rural Crime Taskforce, is helping to make Oxfordshire an increasingly hostile environment for those looking to steal agricultural machinery, trailers and other rural equipment.

The team also continues to actively engage with members of the farming and rural community through rural WhatsApp groups. These groups provide an effective way of sharing information about suspicious activity, emerging crime trends, theft prevention advice and ongoing policing activity. They allow information to be shared quickly between local residents, farmers and the police, helping us build intelligence and respond proactively to concerns. We would encourage anyone with an interest in joining these groups to speak with a member of the team.

Crime prevention remains one of the most effective ways of reducing rural theft, and we would encourage anyone who owns trailers, plant machinery or agricultural equipment to consider the security measures available. The Neighbourhood Team and our Rural Crime Prevention and Reduction Advisor are always happy to provide advice on security improvements, property marking schemes and other products that may help protect your property.

You Said, We Did

You said: Trailer theft and the theft of agricultural equipment remain concerns for our rural communities.

We did: Continued high-visibility patrols across rural Bicester, worked closely with the Rural Crime Prevention and Reduction Advisor and Rural Crime Taskforce, delivered property marking using SelectaDNA and Datatag on farms across the area, engaged regularly with the community through rural WhatsApp groups, and provided crime prevention advice aimed at reducing opportunities for offenders and protecting valuable equipment.

If you would like crime prevention advice, information about property marking, or would like to discuss security measures for your farm, business or rural property, please speak to one of our officers at a local event, through one of our community engagement opportunities, or contact Thames Valley Police via 101 or www.thamesvalley.police.uk.
Working together with our communities remains one of the most effective ways of preventing rural crime and protecting property across the Bicester area.