Citing Crime Wave, REI Packs Up Its Tent in Portland

The only REI store in Portland, Oregon, will close early next year, the Seattle Times reported Wednesday, with the camping gear company citing the far-left city's crime spike as the main reason.
Last year, REI Portland "had its highest number of break-ins and thefts in two decades, despite actions to provide extra security," prompting the closure, the company said in its announcement. REI spokeswoman Megan Behrbaum told the Times that crime is "overwhelming [security] systems in place" even after company representatives met with Mayor Ted Wheeler (D.) over "concerns for the safety of our employees, members, and customers."
The Portland store's crime problem came to a head last November, when a car crashed through the REI's glass front door, the Times reported.