The Dalles Police Hunt Shoplifter With Distinct Left-Calf Tattoo

The Dalles Police Department is asking the public to help identify a man accused of walking out of a local business with more than $500 worth of personal entertainment devices, a theft that pushes the case near the felony threshold under Oregon law. Investigators say the suspect has a distinct tattoo on his left calf that could help pin down his identity.

The case was publicized in a post titled “Do You Know Me?” from the City of The Dalles Police Department on Facebook, which included photos of the unidentified man and asked anyone who recognizes him to come forward. Detective Castro is the point of contact fielding calls related to the case, and residents with information are asked to reach the department directly at (541) 296-2613.

Because the reported loss is over $500, the case falls squarely within Oregon's Theft in the Second Degree statute. Under ORS 164.045, theft of property valued between $100 and $999 is a Class A misdemeanor, carrying a maximum penalty of up to 364 days in jail and fines as high as $6,250. Had the haul topped $1,000, the suspect would instead be facing Theft in the First Degree, a Class C felony under Oregon statute punishable by up to five years in prison and fines up to $125,000.

Anonymous Tips Have a Track Record in The Dalles

Anyone hesitant to call in by phone has another option: the department's Tip411 system, which can be found by searching “The Dalles Tip411” in any search engine. According to the police department, the system automatically strips identifying sender information before officers ever see incoming texts, allowing residents to communicate anonymously with investigators by texting the keyword TDPD to the short code 847411. The service is monitored during standard operating hours and isn't meant for active 911 emergencies, per the department.

The platform has produced real results before. In October 2025, an anonymous tip submitted through Tip411 helped The Dalles Police Department execute a search warrant that led to the seizure of more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine, 50 pounds of marijuana, and multiple firearms, an operation that involved the Mid-Columbia Interagency Narcotics Task Force and regional tactical units, according to tip411's own writeup of the case.

A Detective With a Track Record and a Community Focus

Detective Castro, who is handling calls on this case, has built a reputation within the department beyond routine casework. He earned The Dalles Police Department's Distinguished Service Award in 2025 for his role on a regional Major Crimes Team investigation that led to arrests in a fatal theft case originating in nearby Hood River, as reported by Columbia Gorge News. That earlier case, detailed in Hoodline's prior coverage of the Hood River theft-turned-murder case, resulted in a second-degree murder charge against a suspect in The Dalles.

Castro also plays a visible role in community outreach, including bilingual video broadcasts addressing public safety and community relations distributed under the local hashtag #alltogetherthedalles, according to the department's Facebook page. That kind of engagement matters in a city where foreign-born residents account for roughly 9% of the population, per Data USA figures cited alongside the department's outreach efforts.

Property Crime Dominates Local Police Work

Cases like this one are far from rare in The Dalles. Property crimes, including commercial shoplifting, vehicle break-ins, and burglary, make up the largest category of reported criminal offenses in the city, with property theft occurring at a rate of roughly 2,068 per 100,000 residents according to 2026 local safety data compiled by DoorProfit. Violent crime rates in the city remain lower than national averages, the same data indicates.

The Dalles serves as the county seat and largest municipality in Wasco County, with an estimated 2024 population of 15,917 residents and a median household income of $62,614, according to Data USA. The department, headquartered at 401 Court Street downtown, has been led since 2021 by Chief Tom Worthy, a former Oregon State Police major who previously spent five years stationed in the city with state police before returning to lead the local force, according to Northern Wasco County PUD.

For now, the man in the photos remains unidentified, and investigators are counting on the tattoo on his left calf, along with tips from the public, to close the gap. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Detective Castro at (541) 296-2613 or submit an anonymous tip through Tip411.