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Break-ins have become a persistent problem in Portland, Oregon, and a clothing store was recently closed for good due to the thefts.
This month, a series of break-ins have left the store in financial ruin.
They then posted a note on the front of the store to announce their closure.
The note
The notice from the clothing store referred to criminal behavior and employee safety concerns as reasons for the closure.
“Our city is in peril,” the Rains PDX store note reads. “Small businesses (and large) cannot sustain doing business in our city’s current state.”
“We have no protection, or recourse, against the criminal behavior that goes unpunished. Do not be fooled into thinking that insurance companies cover losses.”
“We have sustained 15 break-ins,” it continued. “We have not received any financial reimbursement since the 3rd.”
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The problem
Marcy Landolfo, the store owner, said she had suffered 14 thefts in the past year and a half.
As a result, the business can no longer survive the financial strain it costs the store.
“The problem is, as small businesses, we cannot sustain those types of losses and stay in business,” said Landolfo.
“I won’t even go into the numbers of how much has been out of pocket.”
“The products that are being targeted are the very expensive winter products and I just felt like the minute I get those in the store, they’re going to get stolen.”
Solutions
Last month, Rains PDX faced another break-in.
Meanwhile, Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office is developing a plan to help business owners financially repair their stores.
Marcy Landolfo, however, said tackling crime in Portland isn’t enough.
“Paying for glass, that’s great; but that is so surface and does nothing for the root cause of the problem, so it’s never going to change,” she said.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office said Mayor Wheeler and his team understand the plight of local businesses.
They said companies should pay out of pocket or file a claim with their insurance company.
On Sunday, the spokesperson said:
“For this reason, we’ve worked to increase funding for Business Repair Grants through Prosper Portland, and recently held a Retail Safety Summit to strategize with local business leaders and loss prevention specialists on the retail theft crisis.”
“We are also working with interested property owners to streamline the permitting process to add enhanced lighting to storefronts, which can help deter nighttime break-ins.”
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Theft
In recent years, retail chains across the country have been plagued by break-ins.
The National Retail Federation conducted a study that showed organized retail crime grew 26.5% in 2021, leaving businesses with a multibillion-dollar problem.
Meanwhile, Portland has seen a rise in violent crime in recent years.
A recent 2020 survey found that the city experienced overnight protests and grievances following the death of George Floyd.
2020 also saw a 58% increase in homicides, while 2021 will see a 54% increase.
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