Truck smashes through SW Portland bottle shop in failed ATM robbery

Early on Wednesday morning, two masked individuals attempted to steal the ATM at John’s Marketplace in Southwest Portland by driving a pickup truck into the front entryway.

The 4:30 a.m. incident was characterized by brothers Paul and Robert Petros, co-owners, as another setback for small enterprises that are already having difficulty surviving.

According to Robert Petros, they tied up the ATM to a tow rope after driving through the front window and attempted to remove it, but the line broke. After attempting to back out of the window for approximately four minutes, they gave up and departed.

The store owners claim that they have not been able to identify the individuals, who were wearing dark clothing and headgear. No license plates were visible on the pickup.

Repairing the damage will cost far more than the $500 that the ATM can hold.

Additionally, the Multnomah Village wine and beer shop has locations in Beaverton and on Southeast Powell Boulevard.

Robert Petros stated, “We’ve had our windows broken three times in the past, but we’ve always paid out of pocket.” Preliminary estimates for repairs this time range from $15,000 to $20,000. A tiny firm would be devastated.

Two House of Pipes shops in Gresham and Happy Valley were the subject of burglaries on Tuesday. In order to enter, a driver in the Gresham incident rammed their vehicle through the entrance. According to owner Sami Hales, the combined damage from the two burglaries could reach $175,000.

According to the Petros brothers, the occurrences show how difficult it is for small enterprises to avoid being targeted by criminals even when they have insurance.

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Although people believe that insurance covers everything, rates increase with each claim. According to Robert Petros, these costs have an impact on a company’s operations. For us, $2 million in gross revenue is equal to $20,000 out of pocket.

In an effort to maintain a pleasant atmosphere and discourage graffiti, the store’s door has been boarded up and painted with a cheerful mural by a local artist.

Robert Petros stated, “We wanted people to know that we’re still open and part of the community.”

Paul Petros stated that he is still hopeful.

Paul Petros stated, “We take great pride in being a part of the community.” If this pulls people together, that is what we hope will happen.

Multimedia reporter Tyler Brown works for The Oregonian/OregonLive, where he covers breaking news. He can be contacted at 503-221-8243 or [email protected].

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