A MAN from Carterton was arrested following a ram raid at an Oxford supermarket.

Waitrose in Botley Road was struck by thieves in the early hours of Sunday morning, with a cash machine reported stolen from inside the store.

On Monday, police revealed a 37-year-old man from Carterton had been arrested on suspicion of burglary in connection with the offence.

He has since been released under investigation.

Officers were called to the Botley Road Waitrose at around 1.30am on Sunday to reports that the cashpoint had been stolen.

A Land Rover Defender was abandoned outside the main entrance with a cable attached to the rear.

The raid at in Oxford follows five others across the county in recent months, including at supermarkets in Carterton, Chipping Norton and Charlbury.

Police have said they cannot confirm whether the raids are connected at this stage.

Aldi in Banbury Road, Chipping Norton, was targeted on December 12.

At about 12.40am officers were dispatched to the scene and found a council-marked Land Rover vehicle which had been reported stolen from Witney that night.

Offenders caused damage to the store but were unsuccessful in taking the ATM and nobody was injured in the incident.

Then on January 2 thieves struck at the Co-op Food store in Enstone, Road, Charlbury.

Staff were called to the store after an alarm was activated at around 3.30am, and upon arrival they found that the front doors had been forced open and attempts made to remove the cashpoint.

It is not believed that any cash was stolen during the incident.

A white Renault van and a silver Land Rover, both reported stolen were recovered nearby.

A week later, the Co-op in Savile Way, Grove, was hit by ram raiders.

Aldi in Horspath Driftway, Headington, was raided on Saturday, February 3, and Morrisons in Carterton, was targeted on Thursday.

The Carterton supermarket was closed for most of the day after police said four or five people tried to take the cash point at the shop in Black Bourton Road about 1.30am.

The gang then left in another vehicle, leaving the Land Rover and a stolen blue Volkswagen Transporter at the scene.

It is not clear whether thieves managed to escape with any cash.

Police have urged any witnesses or anyone with information about any of the incidents to contact them on 101.