'Petty crime': Pair robs St. Johns Food Share in N. Portland
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Two young men are being sought after smashing a glass door and stealing donated items from the St. Johns Food Share in North Portland in the early hours of Saturday.
Surveillance footage shows the pair, who tried to hide their faces, frantically searching inside the food share at 8100 North Lombard at 4:01 a.m. They ended up taking a case of water, frozen chicken, an old pair of sneakers and a soon-to-be-donated computer tower.
"That is all something we would've given to them for free anyway if they came during open hours," St. Johns Food Share President Tiffany Slottke told KOIN 6 News. "I definitely felt like I didn't have any empathy for them thinking, 'Oh, no, they were really hungry. They needed the chicken.' I just felt like it was a petty crime."
Despite the damage and boarded up door, the food share was back open Monday. The food, donated from grocery stores, warehouses and restaurants, is carefully curated and given for free, serving about 1000 people each month with lines sometimes around their building.
Slottke said this crime cost more than what was taken. It's also given her a headache she didn't need.
"I have another job and so the fact that, you know, I have to meet glass repair people on a day that I would probably be working my other job, it's just not convenient. It's annoying."
The St. Johns Food Share still faces a $500 repair bill after insurance kicks in and donated labor from the community.
Portland police haven't arrested anyone yet. But Slottke said Stolen Cars PDX tracked down the stolen vehicle the suspects used.
"It just made me so angry," she said.
Slottke knows what punishment she wants to se handed out. She wants the suspects to pay for the damage and volunteer for three shifts to see firsthand the community they harmed.
"Being able to give this stuff to people who are so grateful to have it really feels good," she said. "It's my adrenaline."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Portland police.