Image source: KGW

Portland has faced several problems in recent months, and vandalism has been a major problem for local businesses.

According to the business owners, the problems only got worse when they faced vandalism and burglary.

Ragan Boutique

Ragan VanSise, the owner of Ragan’s Boutique, got a call last Thursday.

Another company called to tell her that their shop’s front door had been hacked.

VanSise is not the only victim of such crimes, as other companies have recently been dealing with broken windows.

She is sure she needs to replace more than just windows.

“They got away with a whole bunch of denim, jewelry, and handbags,” said VanSise.

“It’s been rough. It’s been a rough week.”

Security cameras caught a man walking around the store shortly after the raid.

Meanwhile, Ragan VanSise has felt the exhaustion of crime.

She said it was her dream to own a boutique like this, but noted the past few years have been tough in Portland.

“I’m so tired of this, it’s wearing me down,” she admitted. “I feel sad.”

“I feel like giving up, and I never thought if I got a chance to do this I would give up.”

VanSise also revealed that she sees people taking drugs and going through psychological crises in the streets around her shop.

“I was born and raised here and it’s heartbreaking to me what’s happening – this is the worst it’s ever been,” she said.

“The city needs to figure out a way to help these people.”

Grindhouse Coffee

Meanwhile, a bar in North Portland faced similar problems.

Speaking to KOIN 6 News, Grindhouse Coffee owner Amanda Horne said:

“We’ve been seeing a lot of break-ins and, unfortunately, a lot of vandalism. It’s unfortunate this is happening in Portland right now.”

Horne revealed that despite adding bars to the window and steel doors to prevent burglaries, someone still broke the stained glass.

She said she often reacted to vandalism and once found homeless men on the doorstep who were clearly on drugs.

Although Horne doesn’t try to take her personally, it’s hard to look past her damage, considering her late father made the stained glass windows for her.

Amanda Horne’s father was a glass painter and died in February of this year. Horne’s customers have opened a GoFundMe page to help with window replacement.

As for police assistance, Horne did not call the police.

“The vandalisms, I haven’t reported. The last break-in, the cops took four hours to get here,” she explained.

“I know that they’re sparse and they have more important things to do, which is exactly what they told me.”

“I do feel like we need more policing and our streets need to be cleaned up and people who are homeless need a better direction.”

Reference:

‘It’s been rough’: Portland business owners exasperated over constant vandalism, break-ins