Thieves struck Tony’s Garden Center in Portland, stealing $2,000 of plants. Owner Tony Karam seeks public help after the quick, early-morning break-in.
PORTLAND, Ore. — A southeast Portland garden center is asking for the public’s help after thieves stole more than $2,000 worth of plants during a break-in early Tuesday morning.
Owner Tony Karam says three masked individuals broke the locks off their gate and walked through the garden center taking anything they could. This happened at Tony’s Garden Center on Holgate Boulevard around 5:44 a.m.
According to a Facebook post from the business, the suspects arrived in a champagne-colored Chevy Silverado and a dark-colored Honda Odyssey, both without visible license plates. Surveillance video shows the group cutting the lock on the front gate, sliding it open and backing the vehicles inside before grabbing plants, shrubs, hanging baskets, trees and pottery. The group left the property around 5:49 a.m., heading east on Holgate Boulevard.
Karam, who took over the family-run business about a decade ago, said the speed and scale of the theft stood out.
“Slid the gate open, backed in and just loaded their truck up. Pulled that truck away, backed their minivan in. Loaded their minivan up. So, they took quite a bit of stuff,” he said.
He estimates the loss at roughly $2,000, including hanging baskets, vines and blooming shrubs that were ready for sale.
The timing, he said, makes the impact even more significant.
“This is our peak. This weekend and next weekend are our busiest two weekends and then it kinda slows down,” Karam said.
Tony’s Garden Center has been part of the community for nearly four decades. Karam said his parents started the business when he was just 5 years old, naming it after him. Today, the company operates three locations in Happy Valley, Damascus and Southeast Portland.
“I grew up here; I grew up in this neighborhood, so this place means a lot,” he said. “Portland’s like home to me. … This is where it all started for us.”
While theft is not new, Karam said incidents like this are particularly frustrating.
“We deal with theft quite a bit. This one was just a little bit bigger than normal,” he said.
He believes the suspects targeted items that could easily be resold.
“Honestly, it feels like someone broke in, just grabbed anything that was colorful so they could turnaround and go and resell it or plant it in someone’s yard and make some money,” Karam said.
Despite the size of the property, which spans more than two acres, the suspects stayed near the front gate and worked quickly.
“They were in here for less than five minutes and they took quite a bit of stuff,” he said. “It was just really, kind of violating more than anything. Just seeing someone come willingly coming in and taking what they want.”
Karam said he has filed a report with Portland Police. He’s asking anyone who may recognize the vehicles or individuals to come forward, saying even small details could help identify those responsible.
In the meantime, he says the support from the community is critical as the business heads into its busiest time of year.
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