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Cave Junction residents step up to help those hit by thieves Comment By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Daily Courier Posted Feb. 26, 2015 at 12:14 PM By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Daily Courier Posted Feb. 26, 2015 at 12:14 PM » Social News CAVE JUNCTION — A rash of thefts and vandalism in this town has the community banding together to help the victims and catch the culprits. On Feb. 17, someone climbed onto roofs and destroyed air compressors that cool the refrigeration units in Diggin' Livin' Farm and Apiary store, 146 S. Redwood Highway. The thieves threw two compressors to the ground and stole copper wiring from another two. Solar panels on top of neighboring Taylor's Sausage also were destroyed. Then on Saturday night, someone broke into storage sheds at Jubilee Park, stealing tools from the city's sheds and $2,000 worth of equipment from a shed used by the nonprofit Illinois Valley Little League team. "My heart is broken," said Mo Connolly, co-chair of SK8CJ, which last year saw years of work come to fruition with the completion of the city's skateboard park in a portion of Jubilee Park. Connolly said she's appalled that someone would steal from the youth, the city and local businesses. About 12 dozen softballs and baseballs were stolen from the Little League shed as well as a large tub of first aid supplies, the group's sound system and a red 1990s Honda four-wheel quad, which Little League recently finished paying for through fundraising. It's not known if the padlocks were cut off the Little League sheds, as they apparently were at the city sheds. A keyring, which had keys to all the storage sheds at the park, was missing from one of the city sheds, Connolly added. Shelly Davis, president of the Illinois Valley Little League, is frustrated with the recent thefts. "It's really heartbreaking. This weekend we're having tryouts for Little League, and we're scrambling now to get the items we need," she said. Brad Johnson, a Josephine County sheriff's deputy who works on contract for the city of Cave Junction, said that an investigation is pending. Meanwhile, some community members have started patrolling the streets throughout the night to try to stop the criminal activity, he said. Another resident set up a $500 reward for the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the recent criminal acts. Hundreds of community members posted frustration with the criminals and support for the victims on Facebook pages, including on A Better Cave Junction and the Cave Junction & the Illinois Valley pages. Jesse Dugas, who coaches baseball at Illinois Valley High School and Little League, chastised the thieves and posted his resolve to, together with the community, help Little League continue with the start of its season. "Why take from a bunch of 4- (to) 14-year-old kids? ... It took us years to get the money to be able to get a quad for the field. The last five years, we have had the top-rated Little League field (in) our district, we will again." An account called "IVLL Break-in Fund" has been set up at Washington Federal Bank in Cave Junction for donations to replace the stolen items. Tony Smith of the PAPA medical marijuana dispensary in Cave Junction, has offered to match donations dollar for dollar up to $1,000. A resident also has paid to replace the stolen sound system. Reach reporter Ruth Longoria Kingsland at 541-474-3718 or r [email protected] . By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Daily Courier Posted Feb. 26, 2015 at 12:14 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... 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