This is what happens when people know there are no legal repercussions for breaking the law.

If you're wondering why the only few Walmart in Portland are closing, this is why.

When I was 7 years old I got caught shoplifting at a store. I was really scared. Security called my Father to come and get me. On the way Home I was very relieved. I was Happy and smiling thinking I got away with it. I felt like I was smarter than everyone else. When I got Home my Father gave me the SPANKING of my Life. I never stole anything ever again. Smiles.

Many years ago there was a "discount" store in Toronto, Ontario, Canada call Consumers' Distributing, many of their items were on display... behind the counter. To make a purchase, you filled out a small order form, presented it to the clerk who go into the back of the store to collect it. The clerk would put it on the counter for you to open and inspect, if you were satisfied, you bought it, if not, it went back into the box and back into the storeroom. They went out of business because there were bigger store where everything was on a shelf for you to see/handle, seems this would be a good business model for the Portland area now.

We lost our small, locally owned pet store due to shoplifters, the owner tried putting locks on the cages but it wasn't enough. She ended up just selling pet supplies online. It's sad it was a beautiful, creative store with lots of interesting murals and terrariums I used to buy as much as I could to support their shop.

This is what happens when your heart bleeds for thieves.

The only solution is to increase the punishment and stop making “plea deals” or reduced sentences for convicted criminals. I see court cases on KZread all the time that infuriate me because the guilty people don’t get HALF of the punishment they deserve.😡

If I own a store and caught them on camera I would post there picture on billboards outside of my store to let everyone know who the thieves are. Call it the Shame of Thieves.

Even if they catch them the government just lets them go with a warning!

There's no point in making new laws if you're not going to prosecute the existing one's on the books. The laws haven't changed. The criminals haven't changed. The only thing that's changed is certain DA's that don't prosecute theft, which leads to more theft, and more brazen theft because we've proven we won't prosecute them. So pass as many do-nothing bills as you want, you're not the ones picking which crimes to actually prosecute. That comes down to the District Attorney and their "prosecutorial discretion."

The shoplifting obviously not only hurts the stores but the customers too. Stores stop stocking certain items or lock them up. Then when I go to the drugstore or whatever I can't find anything or have to get them to unlock it. So I start buying everything online and local businesses suffer.

If there is no harsh consequences, the robbers will continue to steal until all the front stores are closed

If Oregon comes up with a theft bill, it will be a bill to make theft legal.

From Corporate America, and the highest seats of Government, Crime seems to pay off with little or No consequences. The only thing that seems to trickle down, is the lack of morals and having no shame.

This is so alien of a scenario where I live in southern Indiana, I have never seen anything close to this type of criminality since I came to this country 45 years ago from Asia. And yet I cant help being disturbed and being empathetic to the plight of small business owners who worked so hard to make their dream come true on their own, only to be victimized by criminals over and over again. So shes right in asking herself what's the use of continuing this business.

I keep expecting Malls to become "Member's Only" and not be open to the public.

The Walmart on SE 82nd in Portland lost 5.8 Million dollars last year (have a family member working loss prevention there)mostly due to shoplifting‼️ That’s why they are closing. It’s out of control and something drastic needs to be done ASAP‼️ So sad and sickening‼️😤

This is so sad my heart goes out to this owner. I also own a couple of small businesses and it's tough. These thieves are out of control.

Having start and run a small business, I can understand what she is going through. As I ran a service business, getting ripped off was harder. But there were those who would hire me out and not pay. Luckily, my expenses were low, it was much a loss of a day or two of wages.

Who would of guessed the race of the shoplifters? No surprises here.