Walmart to finally close all of its Portland locations due to persistent theft

May 2024 · 2 minute read

Also Portlandia

[quote] Major corporations blame it on theft to scare the public

PORTLAND, Ore. — It was March 2022 when Tamara Young decided to take the leap. Business was brisk at her upscale consignment store in Southwest Portland, and she wanted to expand. So, the owner of Consign Couture made the move, expanding her operation to a second location in Washington Square.

"I told them when I decided to lease this space that I felt like this was a more secure place to sell Louis Vuitton and Chanel bags," said Young.

The small business owner hoped the mall location, right next to the retail giant Nordstrom, would bring more eyes to her luxury merchandise. What she didn’t realize was many of those watching were thieves.

Over the past year, crooks have hit Consign Couture’s Washington Square location 19 times, stealing more than $56,000 dollars in merchandise, according to the owner.

After a year in business at Washington Square, Young plans to close her shop at the end of March. She's not renewing her lease. Consign Couture can't absorb the losses or pay for security in the same way big retailers can, she said.

"The amount of work that goes into running a small business, down to the research, tags and training to do this the right way and then someone just steals a day's worth of all your work, it's like — 'What’s the point?'" asked Young.

The thieves were often working in teams when they hit the store, Young said. One person would act as a look-out or distract the employees while others ripped off expensive items like handbags, which were presumably resold.

"They believe they can sell quickly on Offer Up and Facebook Marketplace and wherever else," Young theorized.

Consign Couture tried to prevent shoplifting by putting luxury bags in locked glass cases, displaying single shoes instead of a pairs and installing security cameras.

"I just don’t think it derails these very brazen thieves," said Young. "They're like, 'Great! There's a camera. What are you going to do about it?'"

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But I bet she voted for the politician who created this climate

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