PORTLAND, Oregon — Portland police have arrested a serial burglar believed to be connected to four burglaries in the Multnomah Village and Hillsdale neighborhoods, and more cases around the metro area.
Around 5 a.m. on Monday, Portland police officers, the Special Emergency Reaction Team and the Crisis Negotiation Team executed a search warrant at an apartment on Southwest Barbur Boulevard. They arrested 38-year-old Virginia Kellison. The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) shared several photos taken inside Kellison's apartment.
“Because of the search warrant, we have uncovered a significant amount of evidence that will lead to more investigations, and hopefully more charges in the near future,” said Officer David Baer with the Portland Police Bureau. “We’re very happy to have recovered property that we can return to owners. And to be able to remove one of the prolific offenders out of that area is great — it’s a big win for our team.”
Since July 2023, police believe Kellison burglarized a game and comic book store three times, and a consignment store once. Both businesses are on Southwest Capitol Highway. More than $50,000 worth of merchandise was stolen, according to PPB.
Police believe Kellison has also burglarized businesses in Lake Oswego, Beaverton, Sherwood, Salem, McMinnville and in southwest Washington. A PPB spokesperson confirmed that Kellison is the same serial burglar who targeted Funky Monkey Women's Consignment in Salem and Sherwood, Modao Resale in Vancouver and Consigning Women in Lake Oswego. Security camera footage from each business captured a woman who looked and acted similar in all the burglaries.
“I couldn’t believe it at first. But when you confirmed it, I almost cried. Well, I did cry,” said Linda Fisher, owner of Funky Monkey. “And it’s April Fools! So, I wasn’t sure at first. But I knew someone wouldn’t joke around about this.”
Fisher’s surveillance camera captured what appeared to be Kellison stealing high end bags from her Sherwood location. She’s estimating a $10,000 dollar loss to the theft between her Sherwood and Salem store locations.
“It was devastating. She still thousands of dollars' worth of merchandise,” said Fisher. “Police said they can confirm two items that they have that is ours. I am still waiting on the stuff from Sherwood that happened in November.”
“We lost an estimated $25-$30,000 worth of stuff and damages,” said Ron Connell, the owner of the Other Worlds Games and Comics.
Connell’s surveillance camera also captured what appears to be Kellison stealing thousands of dollars worth of collectible card games and comics from his store — three separate times. Connell tells KGW he was burglarized twice in November and once in December. He said he was hit a fourth time during the ice storm in January.
“I don’t expect to see those products back,” said Connell. “And the pictures that the police showed this morning, it was hard to tell if there was anything there that was ours. They may have already sold it.”
Kellison faces the following charges: four counts of burglary in the second degree, four counts of theft in the first degree, two counts of criminal mischief in first degree, and two counts of criminal mischief in the first degree.
PPB asks anyone with information about Kellison to contact crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 23-334438.
This is a developing story and it may be updated when more information becomes available.
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