Portland Nike store abruptly closes after brazen shoplifting incidents
'Closed for the next 7 days,' a message on the Nike store's website says
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National Retail Federation President Matt Shay reacts to the report that organized retail crime was up by 26.5% annually in 2021 on ‘Varney & Co.’
A Nike store location in Portland, Oregon, has been closed for weeks after an increase in theft crimes, and there is no indication when it will reopen, local media reported.
"Closed for the next 7 days," a message on the Nike Community Store Portland website reads, KGW8 reported this week.
The message is not new, however, and has been that way for weeks, according to the outlet.
Several people with knowledge of the situation told KGW8 that theft has long been an issue at the store, and shoplifting has increased. A local church that sits near the Nike location has even captured footage of thieves fleeing the store with their arms full of stolen merchandise.
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Nike Community Store in Portland, Oregon. (Google Maps)
"It’s obvious that they’ve stolen something, and they’re looking to unload it somewhere," Pastor Paul Greenidge of New Song Community Church told the outlet.
Similar to other retail chains, security guards and employees at the Nike location are instructed to not try to stop shoplifters in an effort to protect the workers, according to KGW8.
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The Nike logo is displayed on a window at a Nike store on March 21, 2019 in San Francisco. Nike will report third quarter earnings today after the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Nike customers have been left confused why the store is not opening, not disclosing why its closed or when it will reopen.
"There’s nothing on the door. It doesn’t say anything," said Carmelleta Nash-Pronold after finding the Nike store closed one day. "Usually stores let you know what’s going on."
Fox News Digital reached out to the Nike communications team, asking when and if the store plans to reopen, but did not immediately receive a response. Nike's worldwide headquarters is located just a few miles outside of Portland, in Beaverton, Oregon.
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Other stores in the city have recently closed in response to crime and safety issues, including a Cracker Barrel restaurant and Starbucks locations.
Thefts have plagued retail chains nationwide in recent years. The National Retail Federation conducted a survey that found organized retail crime increased by 26.5% in 2021, resulting in a multi-billion dollar issue for businesses.
Philadelphia Police Department released footage showing the dozens of youths ransacking a Wawa location in September. (Philadelphia Police Department)
Wawa announced last month that it was closing two locations in Philadelphia due to an uptick in retail crime. Walgreens announced last year that a handful of locations were closing due to rampant theft, while other drug and grocery stores cut hours to help curb potential crimes.
Philadelphia Police Department released footage showing dozens of people ransacking a Wawa location on Sept. 24. (Philadelphia Police Department)
Additionally, Target CFO Michael Fiddelke said on a call with reporters this week that the company lost $400 million in profits this year, which a spokesperson later attributed to "organized retail crime."
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California was battered by smash-and-grab crimes during 2021’s holiday shopping season that carried over into 2022. Thieves use heavy objects such as crowbars and bats to break into high-end stores, break display cases within the stores and steal anything from jewelry to expensive handbags and sunglasses.