Portland Police Bureau
08/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/07/2024 16:45
PPB Awarded Grant Money to Further Address Retail Theft
August 07, 2024 15:34
The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) has been awarded nearly a half-million dollars in grant money to further its ongoing efforts to address retail theft.
On Thursday, August 1, 2024, the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission notified PPB that it will be receiving $474,244 through the Organized Retail Theft Grant Program. With a typical retail theft mission costing thousands of dollars to run, the grant money will allow PPB to continue conducting its successful retail theft missions.
"This gives us the ability to hire officers on overtime to engage in this proactive work on the street," PPB's North Precinct Commander Rob Simon said. "This will further our goals of addressing crime and the fear of crime in Portland."
The first disbursement of the awarded funds is expected to be released in early September.
Retail theft missions work directly with our retail partners to identify, apprehend, and work toward prosecution of these offenders. Following each retail theft mission, officers conduct follow-up and work closely with the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office (MCDA) toward prosecution of these cases.
Retail theft is often more than just shoplifting items for personal use. Many suspects are involved in organized theft rings, which steal items that can easily be sold for cash in the secondary market or returned to stores for a "refund." Returning or attempting to return stolen property, no matter the value, is a class-C felony ( https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_164.055 ).
In many cases, these individuals are involved in criminal activity that extends far beyond retail theft, including illegally possessed guns, drug possession and distribution, vehicle theft, and more. Additionally, disrupting theft preserves the viability of retail businesses that serve the Portland community, and improves livability across the area. Mission commanders analyze theft and other crime data to focus their missions on the neighborhoods most impacted by these crimes, which are often large retail shopping complexes. PPB recognizes that smaller local businesses are also impacted by retail theft, and it is our belief and goal that arresting and holding prolific thieves accountable will help reduce these crimes for the entire business community.
PPB is grateful to our partners and MCDA Retail Theft Task Force for their collaboration aimed at addressing retail theft in the Portland Metropolitan area.
To learn more, join us for a video ride-along on one of PPB's recent retail theft missions here: https://youtu.be/XF08DVNQjpQ
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