A burglar successfully stole a lottery safe from the Mad Greek Deli in Northwest Portland after concealing themselves inside the restaurant until it closed on Thursday night. The incident was reported by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and confirmed by the deli’s owner, Jake Marks.
According to Marks, the suspect waited in a broom closet until after closing time. “One staff member was cleaning the bar in the front, while my cook was busy in the kitchen,” he explained. “The burglar emerged from the closet, ensuring the area was clear before making their move.”
Surveillance footage obtained by KGW shows the intruder initially struggling to lift the safe before finally managing to remove it and flee the premises. Marks indicated that the safe contained approximately $30,000.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported that the safe was found empty the following morning in Beaverton. The case has been assigned to the Property Crimes Unit for further investigation. This incident marks the second time in six months that the Mad Greek Deli has fallen victim to a lottery-related theft; another safe was taken from the restaurant on February 2. Marks suspects that the thefts are part of a broader trend targeting local businesses that sell lottery tickets. “Many of the establishments being targeted share one common factor: they all sell lottery tickets,” he noted.
Despite the theft, Marks expressed relief that no employees were harmed. “If someone is willing to hide next to a water heater that’s 200 degrees for an hour just to steal a safe while people are still inside, there’s no telling what they might do,” he said. Investigators are now examining the possibility that the same individual may be connected to both thefts, as well as looking into other nearby businesses that could have been victims of similar crimes.
