GREELEY, Colo. (CBS4)- There has been an increase in car battery thefts in Weld County in recent months.

The Weld County Sheriff said since September 2012 there have been several hundred vehicle batteries stolen.

The targeted vehicles are semi trucks, heavy equipment or batteries being stored in an unsecured location.

The thefts are happening during late night or early morning hours.

The Weld County Sheriff is asking the public to mark their batteries in a way that they would be able to identify as theirs.

To help combat the thefts, vehicles should be parked in well lit areas and if possible behind locked fences.

Anyone with information regarding vehicle battery thefts is asked to call Dana Mellon at the Weld County Sheriff’s Office at 970-356-4015.