Construction sites in Portland face real and ongoing risks tied to the city’s broader property crime ecosystem, and there is a clear need for construction site security in Portland and the Pacific Northwest. While violent crime has shown notable declines in recent years, Portland continues to experience high rates of property offenses such as theft, vandalism, and equipment stripping compared with national averages, and larceny remains a leading category in the Portland Police Bureau’s open-data reports.

In Southeast Portland’s Montavilla neighborhood, local businesses such as Montavilla Sewing Centers have been repeatedly targeted by thieves stripping rooftop HVAC systems — a crime linked to the resale value of copper and other parts — resulting in more than $100,000 in losses in just a few months and highlighting how vulnerable exposed commercial equipment can be without active security.

For construction sites and redevelopment projects in areas like downtown and outer East Portland, this broader pattern of property crime translates into heightened jobsite risk exposure. Theft of tools, copper wiring, machinery components, and other valuable materials does not just affect workers; it drives up insurance costs, delays schedules, and erodes profitability unless proactive security measures are deployed.

Below is a breakdown of reported property crime counts across Portland neighborhoods, illustrating where theft pressures have been most acute in 2025.

Source: City of Portland - data at Portland.gov