PORTLAND, Ore. — The owner of a Portland burger spot said that though they were lucky to survive the COVID-19 pandemic, they haven't been as lucky in dealing with crime years later.
Dick’s Primal Burger on Southeast Woodstock Boulevard told KGW they’ve had their business broken into eight times over the past two years.
Owner Liam Pelot said he believes Portland’s police staffing levels have left small businesses in a vulnerable position. At the end of 2022, the burger joint saw three break-ins in three months. Since then, they’ve had about five more break-ins, with the most recent break-in this past Friday.
Most of the incidents involve people smashing glass doors or windows, which leaves the restaurant with a bill of over $700 each time.
Pelot said that the biggest consequence isn’t financial, but the uneasiness faced by his customers and staff.
“But it really affects us from a state of mind. It’s just feeling powerless, feeling like we just don’t get the support from the city and from the police, I know they are doing the best that they can,” Pelot said.
“The folks in the city just need to agree that there is a problem. Stop pretending that it will fix itself or it is going to go away, and kind of set politics aside,” he added.
Other incidents confirmed by police include a theft of two laptops from the business and another in which people removed and stole an entire safe.
Primal Burger said they did receive some support from the city nonprofit Prosper Portland.