The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission reports that shoplifting claims have increased by more than 450% in Oregon since 2018.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Hollywood Beverage off Northeast Sandy Boulevard Sunday afternoon was bustling with customers. It’s been open for about 15 years, but business this year is proving to be different from the rest.
“I’m certainly disheartened,” explained Dan Miner, who runs the store. “I’m certainly concerned — particularly with robbery where there’s threats of violence.”
Miner stated that his business was the victim of several robberies in this year. However, he’s not alone.
According to the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis CommissionShoplifting claims have increased by more than 450% in the past year, according to a state agency that oversees liquor stores. Burglaries are when someone enters a store after hours and increase by more than 500% in 2018. There have been at least four reported armed robberies this year. Three of them occurred at Hollywood Beverage.
“I’ve had a cashier who was threatened for her life from the robber, he had a knife which was just inches away from her abdomen,” Miner said. “He said, ‘Don’t make any sound or I’ll kill you.’ He grabbed several bottles on the counter.”
Miner stated that the robber took approximately $500 from the register. Miner has spent thousands on repairs to break-ins because of this and other thefts.
In addition to more dangerous crimes, liquor store owners are now seeing brazenly stealing multiple bottles at the same time. Hollywood Beverage discovered two months ago that 18 bottles had been stolen at once by a group. Miner said they often don’t know for sure that it’s gone until they review the security camera footage, and by that point it’s too late.
“We’re really limited because we can’t physically confront a shoplifter — it’s just verbal, we’re asking them to return the bottle, to not steal and that’s almost always ignored,” Miner explained.
Shoplifters in Portland can call 911 to report the crime if they are in progress. If the crime is not in progress, they must call a non-emergency number. Miner said he’s been told to file online reports and many have gone unanswered. KGW reached out to the Portland Police Bureau but haven’t heard back yet.
Miner contacted the state last week to voice his concerns and requested financial assistance or assistance in curbing these criminal acts. The OLCC responded by signing up to The Oregon Retailer Crime Association in order to learn more about how to tackle retail crime.
“Right now, we can’t count on civil order. I think the state has an increased responsibility to help find a solution and to reduce this issue,” said Miner.
This string of theft isn’t happening exclusively in liquor stores — it’s impacting small businesses across the city.
from Salem – Salem Local News https://bit.ly/3fml44h
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.