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Teens arrested in school burglaries By JILL BRISKEY Four Medford teens suspected of stealing more than $5,000 worth of computers and equipment from North Medford High School over several occasions were arrested Friday after one of them was caught in the act. Medford Police Lt. Tim George said the arrest is the first break in a recent rash of school incidents throughout the Rogue Valley. "There have been several schools hit," George said. "We�re not sure if, at all, these cases are related." According to Medford Detective Bill Ford, both Orchard Hill and Williams Elementary schools were burglarized in March. Ford said Friday morning around 3:50 a.m., police responded to North Medford High School after an alarm was triggered. Officers chased after two suspects who were ran away after spotting police. Ford said a male juvenile, 16, who lived in east Medford, was caught but that he refused to implicate the second suspect. "He did admit to breaking in," Ford said, adding that the teen gained access to the school by holding a lighter under plexi-glass and melting a hole in the surface. "It�s unique. I�ve never heard of it being done before." The teen, who was lodged in the juvenile detention center, was charged with second-degree arson, second-degree burglary, second-degree mischief and third-degree escape. Ford said the investigation eventually led to the discovery of a laptop that had been reported stolen from the high school Feb. 28. From there, Ford said police soon learned the identity of the second suspect, another 16-year-old male who also lived in east Medford. The boy was charged with the same crimes as the first suspect, Ford said. The second suspect reportedly admitted to stealing the laptop in the Feb. 28 crime along with his cohort. After interviewing the two teens, Ford said police delved deeper into earlier reports thefts at the high school. During February, Ford said a Tower computer hard drive, a CPU, RAM, audio/video cards and various other computer equipment were stolen from North Medford High School. "Originally it was suspected that this was an inside job possibly involving employees," Ford said. Friday afternoon, Ford said two 17-year-old Medford boys were arrested after the stolen equipment was discovered in their possession. Those two teens were charged with second-degree burglary and first-degree theft. One was lodged in the juvenile detention center, while the other was released. Ford said three of the teens had attended North Medford High School at one point and one 17-year-old was attending night classes at South Medford High School. "None of the rest are attending school," Ford said. "The rest are kind of dropouts." Medford police will continue to investigate the thefts, Ford added. Residents with information regarding area school burglaries are urged to contact Ford at 774-2230. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.