Earlier this month, elected leaders in the city of Portland and Multnomah County announced two new crime-reducing task forces.
One aimed at retail theft and the other at auto theft.
Last year, more than 12,500 vehicles were stolen in Multnomah County.
Compare that to Washington County with more than 1700, and Clackamas County with 1600 auto thefts.
While Multnomah County’s population is considerably larger, the difference in auto theft numbers is startling.
Vehicle thefts have grown dramatically in the last six or seven years.
A KATU News investigation found that in 2016 – Portland Police reported just over 5,000 thefts.
The number more than doubled last year.
KATU investigator Wright Gazaway discovered that in Multnomah County police and prosecutors have arrested and charged only a fraction of the thieves.
In the report, you’re about to see, Wright shows us what police and citizens are doing to hold thieves accountable and recover stolen vehicles.
KATU
