GRANTS PASS, Ore. — A local business in Grants Pass has become the target of recurring burglaries, leaving the owner frustrated and concerned about the growing trend of thefts in the area. Yumberry Bowls, a popular acai bowl and smoothie shop, has been broken into multiple times over the past year, with incidents occurring roughly every few months.
Julie Lockman, the owner of Yumberry Bowls, says the frequency of the burglaries has dramatically increased in recent years. While the business experienced a few thefts in its early years, these were rare and spaced out over long periods. However, in the last year, the shop has been burglarized in June, September, December, and most recently, February.
“It’s just kind of like a gut punch,” Lockman said, describing the emotional and financial toll the break-ins have taken on her and her business. “We feel violated. It’s kind of defeating.”
The burglars have used various methods to break into the shop, including jamming open windows, forcing open doors, and even damaging the business’s gate. Despite these repeated break-ins, the thieves have only stolen frozen fruit and a small amount of cash, with losses estimated at less than $20. However, the damage to the business has been much more substantial, costing Lockman thousands of dollars in repairs.
“The damages definitely affect the bottom line,” Lockman explained.
Lockman believes the rising crime rates in the region are contributing to the problem. She pointed out that the local authorities’ response has been inadequate in addressing the increasing crime wave, which she feels has allowed the situation to continue unchecked.
“Unless we put an end to the enabling that’s going on in the county, it’s not going to come to an end,” she said. “It’s going to continue.”
Despite the ongoing crime, Yumberry Bowls continues to operate. The business is part of a franchise with locations in several other areas, but the Grants Pass location is the only one experiencing these ongoing security challenges.
“Those areas that we franchised in are not having the issues that we’re having here in Grants Pass,” Lockman noted. “So it’s a totally different ball game.”
In response to the repeated burglaries, Lockman has taken steps to protect her business. She installed extensive security measures, including cameras both inside and outside the shop. Nearby businesses, such as a local gun shop, have also set up cameras to monitor the area, creating a network of surveillance.
While these measures provide some level of security, Lockman continues to hope for a change in local law enforcement practices and a reduction in crime in the community.
For now, she waits, hoping for a resolution to the ongoing problem and for the safety and stability of her business to be restored.