New Car Theft Gang Spurs Warning From Portland Police

PORTLAND, OR — There's a new gang of car thieves striking across the city, police say. They use the same technique, target female drivers, and have been successful at least four times in the past week.

Each time, a woman is driving alone when a group of two to four teenagers frantically approach the car, screaming that there's something wrong with the car or someone is hanging out the back of the vehicle., anything to get the woman to stop to see what's wrong.

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When the victim gets out of the car, the teens jump in and drive away.

The women have been as young as 29 and as old 75 years old. None have been injured or even threatened.

Police say the thefts happened:

• Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at about 3:00p.m., a Ford Fusion was stolen from a 29-year-old female at Southeast 28th Avenue and Southeast Woodward Street. The car was recovered unoccupied October 13 in the 5700 block of Southeast 72nd Avenue(21-285288).
• At 5:45p.m., at Southeast Tibbetts Street and Southeast Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard, a Subaru Outback was stolen from a 47-year-old female driver. It was recovered October 15 parked near Northeast Sandy Boulevard and Northeast 119th Avenue. (21-285307)
• On Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 4:32p.m., a Subaru Outback was stolen from a 75-year-old female driver at Southeast 28th Avenue and Southeast Franklin Street (21-287382).
• Twenty minutes later at 4:52p.m, the same technique was used to steal a Kia Sorento from a 36-year-old female at Southeast Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard and Southeast Lambert Street (21-287400).

Police say that if you're driving and approached like the women whose cars were stolen, do not get out of the car, lock your doors, and drive away if possible.

They also think that there may have been other thefts.

If anyone has information, please email crimetips@portlandoregon.gov.