Police: Juvenile crime does tend to increase during the summer months

PORTLAND, Ore. - Two theft rings in separate counties lead to the arrest of seven teenage boys and law enforcement officials say summer vacation often brews this kind of trouble. 

School has been out for about three weeks now and already there is a rash of crimes involving school-age kids.

In Tualatin, a theft ring targeted a dozen victims.  Police say a group of four teenage boys broke into cars and stole iPods, accessories, sunglasses and sporting goods.  They then sold the items on Craigslist.

"Over $10,000 worth of items were taken," said Jennifer Massey with the Tualatin Police Department.

Clackamas County had a similar situation.  Three 17-year-olds were arrested after investigators say they had a stolen handgun in their car and were linked to eight home burglaries.

Law enforcement officials say summer vacation often brews this kind of trouble.

"Things do pick up over spring break and in the summertime," said Massey.

Brad, one of the theft victims in Tualatin whose stereo was stolen out of his Honda Civic, said he prefers to make better use of his time.

"I just work, hang out with friends and do non trouble stuff," he said.

A lot of school-age kids do.  Mike Dempster said his teenage daughters are busy all summer - not only with softball but with basketball and soccer as well.

"Part of that is we as parents try to keep them doing things because the busier they are doing that, the less busy they are thinking of other ways to be busy," he said.

Some officers agree and point to the criminal activity leading into the first few weeks of this summer as a perfect example.  But Clackamas County deputies say two of the teens they arrested are star athletes.  So they have been involved in sports.  Still, summer does offer teens a lot of extra time.