PORTLAND, Ore. — A Southeast Portland shopping center was hit hard over the weekend, with half a dozen businesses targeted and the vandals leaving a trail of damage.
Six businesses at the East Burnside Plaza on Southeast 55th Avenue and East Burnside Street all had their doors boarded up by Monday morning. The stores were damaged and some burglarized over the weekend.
A Sherwin Williams paint store, a nail salon, a pub and a barber shop were some of the places hit. The Portland Police Bureau said the vandalism and break-ins most likely took place between 5:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning.
While some businesses reported missing items, others like the Sherwin Williams store only had their glass doors smashed in. Sales associate Fay Garrison said the fact that so many businesses were hit at once is very concerning.
"It makes me feel very uncomfortable, just because typically this shopping center is full of really good people and to know that something like this could happen here without anyone knowing was really disconcerting," Garrison said.
So far, the Portland Police Bureau has not made any arrests or identified suspects in the case.
"I think that most of us that work in these businesses are trying to create a community that’s safe where we can all partner together. Hopefully we can increase the safety somehow in this shopping center," said Garrison.
For now the businesses are focused on replacing their doors.