PORTLAND, Ore. — Business owners say they’re dealing with a serial burglar who’s targeting high-end consignment stores in the Portland area.
Security cameras have captured the woman on video several times, most recently at Funky Monkey Women’s Consignment in Salem and at their store in Sherwood. Owner Linda Fisher said the suspect has a unique, possibly heart-shaped face tattoo on the outer corner of her left eye, and usually wears a mask and hoodie. She has also been spotted driving a white BMW SUV.
"I'm hoping somebody knows who she is," Fisher said. "We put our heart and soul into these stores."
Fisher believes the same woman broke into both of her stores. First, at her Sherwood location on the morning of Nov. 26, she said the crook wiped out all of her high-end handbags, many valued at more than $1,000 each. Then on the morning of Jan. 21, Fisher said the same woman broke into her Salem location. From the security video, Fisher said it appears the woman was looking for and not finding high-end purses. Fisher said she no longer stocks them.
"She's talking to herself, and she kept on saying, 'Where's the good stuff? Where's the good stuff?'" Fisher said. "And she was actually getting mad."
Bailey Handsaker knows Fisher's frustration. She owns Modao Resale in Vancouver.
"It makes my stomach hurt," Handsaker said.
Handsaker said a woman broke into her store on the morning of Dec. 22. She said the crook took most of her high-end handbags as well. She's frustrated that it's still happening to other stores.
"This needs to stop," Handsaker said. "You can't do this to a small business too much or we can't function anymore."
And there's more.
On Nov. 8, security cameras captured a woman breaking into Consigning Women in Lake Oswego. The burglar looked and acted similarly to the crook in the other videos. Owner Stephanie Sparkman said she’s been in touch with other consignment store owners who’ve been hit.
"This is just really frustrating," Sparkman said. "I just really hope someone recognizes her."
Each store owner said they've been working with their local law enforcement agencies on their cases. Anyone with information on who might be behind these break-ins is asked to call their local non-emergency police line.