Prosecutors say a Portland man turned into a real-life Grinch this past holiday season, and now he is facing a stack of charges for it. A Multnomah County grand jury has indicted 39-year-old Allen Easley, who authorities accuse of burglarizing several homes and stealing a family’s Christmas presents just days before the holiday. Easley is being held at the Multnomah County Jail on multiple burglary and theft counts. His case is in the hands of the newly formed Multnomah County Burglary Task Force, which zeroes in on repeat offenders across the metro area.
According to KATU, investigators have linked Easley to three home burglaries across Portland. The alleged break-ins happened on Thanksgiving Day, December 1 and December 20. Prosecutors say the December 20 burglary involved someone kicking in a door, walking through a child’s bedroom and taking several wrapped Christmas gifts while holding a gun. Detectives also tied Easley to a car theft at a Northeast Portland auto service center earlier that same day. Authorities say he was identified as a suspect about a week later and indicted on January 8. Prosecutors have not yet publicly released the full list of counts included in the indictment.
What investigators allege
Deputy District Attorney Alex Garcia said the task force is taking a “do not leave any stone unturned” approach as it looks for connections between cases. Investigators frequently find overlaps between residential burglaries, vehicle theft and weapons offenses, according to KATU. In Easley’s case, prosecutors and police say surveillance footage, including shots of a suspect wearing consistent clothing, along with other evidence, helped tie him to multiple crime scenes. They have urged residents to review doorbell and security-camera footage from the relevant dates and share anything that looks suspicious.
Task force background and earlier arrests
The Multnomah County Burglary Task Force is a joint effort between the district attorney’s office and several local law enforcement agencies. It was created to target prolific burglars and organized break-ins, according to a City of Portland press release. The task force pulls together detectives and prosecutors who cross-check surveillance footage, license-plate reads and other data across jurisdictions to spot repeat offenders and uncover links between cases that might otherwise fall through the cracks.
How to help
Authorities are asking homeowners to comb through and preserve any doorbell or security-camera footage from Thanksgiving through December 20 and to send in clips that might show suspicious activity. Local coverage noted that tips can be emailed to the task force at [email protected] or submitted through online reporting portals, per KPTV. Investigators say even brief video snippets can help connect the dots as the case moves toward prosecution.
Legal next steps
Easley remains in custody following the indictment, and prosecutors will determine how to proceed with arraignment and any upcoming court hearings as they continue to review the evidence. As in all criminal cases, the indictment is only an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
