Article by Chris
Mitchell Buck awoke one morning to go to work and found himself standing in the middle of an “$18,000 dollar score, it was quick and expensive.” The score was a robbery of his small locally owned business, Dirty Finger Bicycle Repair inHood River,OR. This robbery was only one of several robberies that have happened here in the Gorge area in the past year. What is not often understood is that when a small business is robbed, it’s not only taking money from that business, it’s taking away from the community.
According to John Hart, owner of the Kayak Shed inHoodRiver, “Businesses like Wal-Mart; when they make their money, a very small percentage of that dollar stays in that community. But when a smaller business makes a sale, their dollar stays in that community.” This amplifies the impact of theft on a small business like Dirty Fingers or Therapeutic Solutions. Therapeutic Solutions is a small local business dealing with violent offenders who are trying to get therapy for their offenses and also employs special workers that house files that if seen could have potentially harmed the clients. This business was broken into and those files may or may not have been seen.
According to Lori Walters an employee of Therapeutic Solutions, “It’s very violating and hurtful to know somebody came in and went through your stuff (and) to know that they could have seen very important and confidential information.” Breaking into a store or a home does not only affect the business financially it also affects the employees emotionally.
“There have been a couple of times that someone has walked into the office and I’m not expecting a client,” Walters said. “And I immediately jump a little bit, also if I even hear a noise now I kind of jump.” After people have been robbed they often worry that someone is always trying to rob them.
“This is frustrating,” said Buck who not only had his stuff stolen, but possessions of his friends’ as well. “Part number two is (it’s) other people’s stuff. Luckily the other three guys whose stuff was stolen were friends of mine and are very patient and will be taken care of. Those are tough phone calls to make.”
Chris, this is a very good article. After the profile of the Dirty Finger Bicycle Repair a few editions ago, I heard the store had been robbed. I’m glad you did a follow-up article to discuss the wide-ranging impact of the robberies on businesses.
Chris, like janet said this is a great artical and I wish you a great job with this artical and keep working on this artical if you can this can go far and if you can publish this in the hoodriver news if you can when you feel like the time is right.
I like the simplicity of your article and the way you use outside sources while assuming a position in your line of thinking. Though it seems odd to say it – the reality is that If folks are going to steal, let’s not steal from our local communities and hurt our friends and family. I don’t think stealing is good anywhere – but these speaks to the impact at home, and I like that.
[...] Dirty Fingers Robbed News Article [...]
Wow. That is truly malicious theft. Hopefully enough people buy the guy to rethink his marketing strategy. . . or lack thereof.