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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Uncertain diagnosis ... Oregon House sends paid sick leave bill to governor ... OSP tech charged with stealing cash from Central Point office ... Uncertain diagnosis ... Oregon House sends paid sick leave bill to governor ... OSP tech charged with stealing cash from Central Point office ... CRIME 'Tis the season ... for RV battery thefts Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 3, 2015 at 3:22 PM Updated Jun 3, 2015 at 5:32 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 3, 2015 at 3:22 PM Updated Jun 3, 2015 at 5:32 PM » Social News Medford police Lt. Mike Budreau knows the frustration of getting a battery stolen from your recreational vehicle. His boat was left powerless after a thief swiped the battery while the boat sat parked at a friend's house.   After that, Budreau started taking the battery out when it wasn't being used and storing it elsewhere.  "I basically carried it around like a heavy suitcase there for a while," Budreau said. These batteries, which police say are fairly simple to steal if left unsecured, are attracting thieves as more camp trailers, boats and the like are taken out of storage and parked in driveways or on the street in preparation for summer travel and recreation.  “It is occurring during the summer when you have more RVs out, but we’ve also had commercial businesses hit,” Budreau said. “RVs are clearly being targeted and have been targeted for years. It really is just for quick, easy cash.  "Often (they're) all exposed and unsecured, and that is why they're such an easy target."  Batteries typically cost between $75 and $100 off the shelf, but thieves sell them secondhand for as little as one-tenth of that, Budreau said.  From February to April this year, Medford police reported eight incidents of vehicle and RV battery theft, with 15 batteries swiped from various parked vehicles and store shelves. May's numbers nearly tied that three-month period, with nine reported incidents and 13 batteries stolen. In 2014, one or two incidents were reported each month in January through March, but that number almost tripled in the spring and summer months.  Police last week nabbed 19-year-old Jerek Oehme as a suspect in several recent battery thefts — as many as 30 based on his statements to detectives, Budreau said. Surveillance video shows the ease with which the alleged thief made off with an RV battery in the 2900 block of Fairweather Drive last week. Police said he sold the batteries to several Medford stores for cash.   The solution is to either lock the batteries up inside the housing or remove them when they're not in use. "It's not a bad habit to get in the practice of just removing it," Budreau said.  Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 3, 2015 at 3:22 PM Updated Jun 3, 2015 at 5:32 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501