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The House of Pipes was breached earlier this week, causing an estimated $100,000 in damage.
PORTLAND, Oregon (KOIN) — Portland businesses say they’ve hit a breaking point as repeated break-ins are making it harder to stay open, and city leaders are getting it off the ground I hope to do more for you.
KOIN 6 News is asking elected officials tough questions about plans to respond to business owners who feel their concerns are not being heard.
House of Pipes and House of Vape owner Sami Hales said: “They brought a bag full of goodies and cut it with a razor on a machine.
The thieves caught on camera were gearing up to break into NE Broadway’s Pipe House this week. The owner even says he apparently used something to disarm the alarm system.
“They were able to quickly set off the alarm and quickly turn it off. I don’t know if they used my code,” said district manager Brock Berg. No, I don’t know how they can access it.It’s not in my district anymore.”
Fraudsters stole safes and products and destroyed thousands of dollars in glass pipes and display cases. Hales says he has nearly 20 locations around the Portland subway and has seen break-ins repeatedly. Someone recently rammed a truck into the House of Vape location and attempted to steal it.
According to city records, robberies surged in 2020 and continue to rise. The earliest records on the city’s dashboard put him in 3,904 burglaries in 2016. In 2022, that number will hit a record high with 5,869. Hales and other companies that have suffered repeated intrusions, like Orox Leather and Blue Diamond, say insurance premiums skyrocket with each incident, making it even harder to recoup lost revenue. says.
“In a smoke shop or vape shop, insurance doesn’t cover the product,” says Hales. 2019 was a once-a-year event. “Since 2022, things have gotten worse in Portland.”
KOIN 6 raised some business concerns with the new city commissioner, Rene Gonzalez, and said many felt their concerns weren’t being heard. It says we need to develop new policies that work for victims.
“We have to put victims at the center of our criminal justice system. means,” Gonzales said. “I think we need to shape policy around that. There are other investments that cities, counties and states must collectively make in the criminal justice system.”
Last week, KOIN 6 asked Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler what was being done to support businesses.
“There are a few things that need to be done. First and foremost, if business owners and operators can have cameras, it will be easier to identify and prosecute individuals,” Wheeler said. “Second, if we need to be notified when something happens and there is a way we can support the business after the fact, we want to do it.”
KOIN 6 continued to follow up on some of the concerns, but the mayor was not available for follow-up interviews at this time. Some owners, like Hales, say the cameras only work well if many scammers cover their faces and drive without plates. I am looking for a solution.
“When the mayor says cameras, there are 24 cameras instead of 12. There are 24 cameras. Three doors, not one bar, two alarms. It has all the qualities,” said Hales. “We need more help, we need more police and services.”
House of Pipes says the lost revenue and damage from this week’s intrusion are still adding up, but it estimates that about $100,000 could be lost. He plans to increase security and add even more safety measures, but that doesn’t come cheap.
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