PORTLAND, Oregon — A group of northeast Portland food cart owners are recovering after several break-ins. It happened Monday at the Portland Food Park on Northeast 52nd and Sandy. Momo House, J Vein Caffe and Ocean Sushi were all broken into.
"It hits hard because you know we're all just small businesses trying to make it," said Nikiea Pankey who owns CoKiea's Kitchen. Her food cart wasn't broken into this time but knows how the others feel.
"I couldn't tell you how many times I've been broken into, or my propane tanks been stolen, or my power cords been cut and stolen," said Pankey.
Nai Tun, who owns Ocean Sushi, said crooks broke the glass front of his food cart and stole computer tablets and other valuables from inside.
"It feels so bad," said Tun.
Tun said after losing the tablets, he had to suspend online orders. He's grateful for in-person customers like Douglas Young Belicek who dropped in.
"I'm very happy to help in any way I can," said Young Belicek. "They're just trying to earn their money and be there for customers so it's sad to see them broken into."
Several food cart owners told KGW they've come to expect a break-in every time a new cart moves in.
"It's almost like an initiation," said Pankey.
The theory tracks with Tun who'd only moved to the Rose City Food Park about a week ago.
"They're obviously looking for money and anything valuable," said Pankey.
Pod managers said it's up to individual carts to file a police report after a crime. For some, filing an insurance claim isn't worth the mark on their record or the deductible, so they tough it out. Friends started a GoFundMe to help those impacted in this case.
Each time a break-in happens, Pankey said she tries to make sense of the thefts but it's hard.
"Maybe they needed the [stolen items] more than I did," said Pankey. "Maybe they just don't have a conscience."