Two individuals have been taken into custody by the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) following a series of thefts at a Lululemon store in the Pearl District, with thousands of dollars in merchandise reported stolen. The arrests came about with the help of Loss Prevention staff from Lululemon and the Central Precinct’s Neighborhood Response Team (NRT), who discovered stolen items being sold on Facebook Marketplace on December 9, according to the Portland Police Bureau.
Tyler J. West, a 33-year-old resident of Portland, and Alexander W. Dunham, 28, also from Portland, faced charges including Theft in the First Degree and Organized Retail Theft. As reported by the Portland Police Bureau, West and Dunham were involved in multiple thefts from the store on Northwest Couch Street, amounting to over $12,000 in stolen merchandise.
West was charged with four counts of Theft in the First Degree, Organized Retail Theft, and Computer Crime, while Dunham was hit with similar theft charges and an additional charge of felony in Possession of a Firearm. They were booked into Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) following their arrest, as per the Portland Police Bureau.
The investigation unfolded as officers, posed as potential buyers, arranged to meet the sellers on Northwest 19th Avenue through the online marketplace advert. "This case highlights the power of collaboration between police and the public," said Chief Bob Day, as stated by the Portland Police Bureau.
