Home burglaries are on a sharp rise in Portland, Ore., and the city’s police say the best advice they can give homeowners is to protect themselves. According to the Oregonian newspaper, detectives say they expect 4,000 Portland homes to be burglarized this year – a rate of 11 per day. They also say they are overrun with property crime investigations and some cases aren’t even being assigned a detective.
“Literally, the city is overrun with property thieves. And I’m here to tell you, it’s going to get worse before it gets better,” Sgt. Tim O’Dwyer told the Oregonian. He adds that homeowners in Portland have two choices: Do nothing or do more to protect themselves.
While property crime has been down nationwide during the past 20 years, such crimes were up 14 percent in Portland in 2003 and up 11 percent the year before.
One of those who has done more to protect themselves is Sher Bauman, whose home was broken into and burglarized before Christmas. “I’m angry and frustrated and resent the money we spent for a security-alarm system, new door locks and additional motion lights so we can feel safe when we turn the lights off at night,” Bauman told the newspaper.
