The Oxford Borough Police Department is currently investigating a series of thefts in town, including one recent incident where a burglary occurred while the homeowner was at home.

According to Oxford police, the burglary occurred at approximately 1:40 in the morning on March 25 at an occupied residence on Second Street between Lancaster Ave. and Mt. Vernon St. The suspect opened a window to enter the home and proceeded to take a handbag before leaving through the same window. The suspect fled the area through a field that is northwest of the victim's property.

The Oxford police are also investigating numerous thefts from vehicles that have occurred in the vicinity of Pine Street, Mt. Vernon Street and the Brookside housing development during the past several weeks. The vehicles targeted by thieves were frequently unlocked.

The Oxford police issued a reminder to residents to make sure that their homes are secured and their vehicles are locked.

Oxford Mayor Geoff Henry also said that it is always a good idea to keep personal belongings out of clear view as a precaution.

Henry also asked residents to be vigilant, and to report any activity that appears to be suspicious.

“If you see something,” Henry said, “say something.”

At the most recent borough council meeting, Henry also talked about a March 9 incident that Oxford Borough police responded to. Officers were in the process of executing an arrest warrant on a juvenile in the vicinity of 420 Market Street. Authorities had been looking for the suspect for a while, so when they went to execute the arrest warrant, they were assisted on the scene by an officer from West Nottingham Township. A crowd of approximately 30 people, including adults and children, gathered in the area. Once police had the suspect in their custody, the officers attempted to disperse the crowd.

A fight involving two or three family members broke out inside an apartment in the rear, ground floor of the building. Henry said that the officers were met at the front entrance of the building by a resident and relative of the people involved in the fight who said that the fight had been broken up by other family members. The police were told that all the people gathered around the rear lawn area of the property were residents of the building. It would be a large number of people for the five or six apartments in the building.

Henry emphasized that there was never a larger disturbance during the incident, only a fight between family members.

“At no time was there a disturbance involving a larger group [of people],” Henry said.

The incident touches on another issue that borough officials have been concerned with—overcrowding in some properties, particularly rental units.

The borough's Codes Department and the landlord of the property were advised of the incident to ensure that no violations were occurring.