“Cesar Rojas, a Portland business owner, is worried due to the disassembling of the Property Crimes Unit. He spoke about negative impacts of the growing crime rate on his venture and many others. He expresses his apprehension about the increased pressure falling on them due to this escalating situation,” reports the local news.
Other city entrepreneurs are echoing Rojas’s concerns. Businesswoman Kay Newell is particularly upset about the ramping up of property crimes. The absence of a dedicated authority against such crimes has made her apprehensive about the emboldening of criminals,” states Newell.
“A vacuum of authority can encourage more illegal activities, further intensifying Portland’s security challenges,” she adds.
Newell suggests a new approach, advocating for a wide-ranging penalty system that affects all age groups. She believes it would be more effective in controlling crime rates.
Concerns of Portland businesses over escalating crime
Highlighting the need for rehab measures rather than punishments only, she also stressed the necessity of attending to socio-economic factors like poverty and lack of education contributing to crimes.
“In order to foster a law-abiding culture, we must instill a sense of responsibility and accountability in our society. Furthermore, mental health services and interventions need to be improved to address the root causes of crime,” advises Newell.
She reflects on personal experiences of escalating crime rates. The crimes range from damage to her store, which exhibits religious decorations, to negative impacts on law enforcement due to anti-police sentiment.
Regarding these issues, police spokesperson, Terri Wallo Strauss, acknowledges the department’s staffing shortage, but affirms their commitment to maintaining service quality. “We are employing aggressive recruitment strategies and ensuring comprehensive training for the staff. We’re considering temporary measures like overtime for our existing force as we fill in the vacancies,” assures Strauss.
Yet, despite promises of continued investigations into property crimes, Newell highlights local businesses are still facing alarming theft levels. “Having enough officers to enforce the law on the streets could be a more effective deterrent,” she concludes.
