PORTLAND, Ore. – Frustrated business owners are calling on city and county leaders to do more to combat rising property crime in Portland — and they have plenty of suggestions for where to start.
“A lot of the ‘professional criminals’ that are out there busting into businesses and wreaking havoc, truly, we need to catch those folks, and we do need to prosecute those folks,” said Sarah Shaoul, a business coach and founder of the advocacy group Bricks Need Mortar.
Property crime, including vandalism and burglary, increased 16% in the first 10 months of 2022. Some Portland, Oregon, business owners are demanding the city take action.
Property crime, including vandalism and burglary, increased 16% in the first 10 months of 2022. Some Portland, Oregon, business owners are demanding the city take action. (Bison Coffeehouse | Portland Police Bureau | Rains PDX)
PORTLAND BUSINESS OWNERS FACE DOWN ‘MAKE IT OR BREAK IT’ HOLIDAYS AS CRIME SURGES FOLLOWING PANDEMIC, RIOTS
Property crime in Portland rose 16% between January and October of this year compared to the same period in 2021, according to data from the Portland Police Bureau (PPB).
Shaoul acknowledged the shortage of public defenders in Multnomah County, which has resulted in hundreds of cases being dropped. But she said she’s sick of the “opportunist criminals” brazenly vandalizing and burglarizing businesses.
“When somebody has been recorded on camera well over a dozen times backing their vehicle into a business, I think it’s time we do something about that,” she said.
Between the pandemic, riots, rising crime and the ever-present homeless crisis, entrepreneurs are fighting an uphill battle to stay in business, said Katherine Sealy, the owner of Event Cosmetics.
“Safety is a priority for everyone,” she said. “And I think a lot of the surrounding areas… still feel unsafe to come downtown.”
