A sprawling shoplifting spree that police say stretched across Portland ended on July 14, when officers arrested 29-year-old Taja'mar Hepburn. Investigators allege Hepburn is tied to 88 separate incidents and more than $115,000 in stolen merchandise.
According to the Portland Police Bureau, officers from the Central Neighborhood Response Team took Hepburn into custody after a coordinated investigation with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office Retail Theft Task Force. Police say he faces charges that include Aggravated Theft I, 13 counts of Theft I, 26 counts of Theft II, Theft III and Escape III, and that he was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that court records show Hepburn was sentenced in 2025 to three months in prison for third-degree escape and that he has three other open cases in Multnomah County. The outlet also noted that jail records indicated he had not yet appeared in court on the newest charges at the time of booking.
Retail Theft Task Force Says Repeat Offenders Drive Losses
Local officials are pointing to the case as an example of what they have been trying to tackle after years of rising theft reports from big-box stores and corner shops alike. A Multnomah County Retail Theft Task Force report states that as of May 7, 2025, the unit was pursuing 123 defendants tied to more than 1,600 incidents and roughly $6.9 million in reported losses.
How Police Say They Linked Dozens Of Cases
Investigators say this arrest came after a run of tips and patient casework. Portland police said they used information from retailers along with multi-agency collaboration to connect dozens of theft reports to a single suspect.
In its news release, the Portland Police Bureau said it “remains committed to working alongside our community partners” to hold what it called prolific thieves accountable.
Next Steps In Court
Hepburn remains in custody as charging and prosecution proceed with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, which typically handles follow-up filings in Retail Theft Task Force cases. As The Oregonian/OregonLive reported, he had not yet appeared in court on the new charges at the time of booking, and additional court dates or filings are expected.
Retailers and investigators say high-volume shoplifting can ripple through neighborhoods and drive up costs for both businesses and shoppers. Police are asking anyone with information about related thefts to contact the Multnomah County DA Retail Theft Task Force or the Portland Police Bureau.
