Portland shoplifting mission nabs dozens, stolen goods

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Dozens of people were taken into custody in the latest “retail theft mission” conducted by Portland police and the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office over the weekend.

Although officials have not released statistics for Sunday, 24 people were arrested Saturday from the shoplifting missions held at Mall 205 and the Gateway Shopping Center. Through Saturday authorities made 21 vehicle stops, stopped 16 people, recovered 2 stolen cars along with more than $3500 in stolen goods combined from Target, Home Depot, Kohl’s and WinCo Foods.

“We see stolen cars, guns, drugs. And that’s just a general interaction while our community is here trying to show up and get their groceries and get their items for the holidays,” said PPB Officer Michael Terrett.

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Shoplifting and other criminal data drives the decisions about which stores and shopping centers to focus on, authorities said.

“Theft suspects will go in the store and they will be in there for hours,” PPB Sgt. Craig Andersen said.

But Andersen said it’s about more than the arrest.

“We can give them a citation in lieu (of being) in custody. So we use our discretion and help those people when we think it’s just a situation where they need more help, a little more care and and get them and keep them on on a good path,” Andersen told KOIN 6 News.

One person who was busted but not taken into custody told KOIN 6 News he “ended up taking 3 items that I felt I needed really badly. I’ve been sick.”

He also said he’s “kind of ashamed. I don’t know, embarrassed. I’m just tired. I’ve been coughing all last night. Didn’t get much sleep, so I think that the stress caused me not to think well because I didn’t really need to take those items.”

Of the 24 people taken into custody Saturday, 4 face felony charges and 2 had felony warrants.

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