OREGON COMPUTERS STOLEN Three lose electronics in Ashland thefts | MailTribune.com:


Three lose electronics in Ashland thefts

September 09, 2009

A thief broke into at least three offices on Ashland's A Street, including a nonprofit that helps disabled people, and stole thousands of dollars of electronic equipment over the weekend.

An unidentified man pulled out an air conditioning unit set in a window at the Disabled United in Direct Empowerment office at 256 A St. at about 2 a.m. on Sunday, security videos show, said Victoria Law, the owner of the building.

The man stole about $5,000 worth of electronic equipment — including a laptop computer, two video cameras and a projector — which the nonprofit used to make videos to advocate for legislation that aids disabled people.

"We're devastated and we're operating on a shoestring as it is," said Corrine Vieville, executive director of DUDE.

A thief also broke into at least two other businesses in the complex — the Ashland Historic Railroad Museum and a media production office — and took computers, Law said.

Police are investigating four reports of burglaries and one of vandalism that occurred in the 200 block of A Street on Sunday. More information was not immediately available.