Reports from a survey conducted by the Organized Retail Crime Association of Oregon (ORCAOR.) is showing that retail crimes rose sharply in Portland. Businesses are expressing disappointment at the city and county governments handling theft and property crimes. Some big names in restaurants and coffee have recently closed in Portland, as well. Starbucks closed two of its Portland locations, citing employee safety concerns.
The survey, which mostly consists of big-box stores in Portland, found that 95% of respondents were unhappy with how property crime is addressed. It comes as nearly 80% reported “theft had gone up significantly” at their business over the past 18 months, and another 80% felt there wasn’t adequate police response for crimes.
Industry experts say shoplifters are in it for the cash – motivated to steal expensive merchandise and re-sell it online or through the black market. It’s a big problem with a multi-billion dollar price tag in the Pacific Northwest. But for those who work in the stores, the threat is more personal.
The ORCAOR is pushing for legislative changes to stiffen the penalties for repeat theft offenders. The organization is also interested in creating a task force at the state level, to fight retail crimes, similar to what the Washington state Attorney General recently created.
Security told local media that retail employees are regularly threatened and sometimes attacked. It’s also common for thieves to boldly walk out of stores with carts overflowing with unpaid merchandise.
