Port of Camas-Washougal survey details thefts

The Port of Camas-Washougal has pledged to assist its industrial park tenants strengthen their security protocols after nearly half of the respondents to a recent leaseholder survey indicated they have been victimized by at least one theft in the past two years.

The Port created the survey for industrial park tenants to pinpoint specific theft-related issues, identify trends, gather insights on improving security measures, establish a baseline for tracking changes over time and enable tenants to make informed adjustments to their security strategies, according to a Port report.

The Port sent the survey to 45 industrial park tenants and received 16 responses.

“We’re just trying to help the tenants do their due diligence,” said Port Chief Executive Officer Trang Lam. “Each business is going to be slightly different (in the way they handle their security), so we’re going to provide an opportunity where they can get a bunch of ideas on the table and work through some of that.”

Tenants discussed the survey during the Port’s annual industrial park forum, held Nov. 7 at Recluse Brew Works.

“There’s a lot of interest in what the local tenants and other industrial park users can do in terms of protecting themselves,” the Port’s business development director, Derek Jaeger, said during the Nov. 20 Port Commission meeting. The survey found:

• 45% of the 16 respondents reported experiencing theft.

• Respondents reported 11 thefts in the past 24 months and nine in the past 12 months.

• 89% of the respondents said the theft occurred in open lots, where half of the areas were described as being unlocked and unfenced.

• 50% expressed interest in discussing options for additional shared security measures.

• 69% said they have security cameras installed.

• Pickup trucks (29%) and catalytic converters (28%) were the most-stolen items, according to the respondents, followed by trailers, metals/heavy machinery and gas or diesel, all at 14%.

• Roughly 75% of the reported thefts caused $3,000 or more of “financial impact” to the respondents.

• 71% reported the theft to police.

Lam recently met with Washougal Police Chief Wendi Steinbronn, who told the Port CEO to remind industrial park tenants to report theft to the Washougal Police Department, “no matter how big or small,” and that an online reporting option is available if they’d rather not make a phone call.

“We’re sharing that link with businesses because that allows the police to have a good call log and understand where the issues are happening,” Lam said. “(Steinbronn said) that police take a look at their call logs to figure out where they do their patrol route, so if they’re seeing something that’s more of a ‘hot spot,’ then they’re going to have more patrols.”

Lam said she also talked with Steinbronn about the possibility of arranging a meeting between police officers and industrial park tenants to discuss security options.

“If we can bring a police officer in to answer questions and to brainstorm and to share best practices with them, that’s something that we’re looking to do,” Lam said. “(We would like) to bring people together, give them a chance to talk to an officer about safety in that area.”

Tenants reported that fenced and locked lots, along with security cameras and signage, serve as deterrents to theft, according to the survey. Jaeger said the Port could provide tenants with information about other options, including hiring their own private security patrol or installing security cameras.

“A lot of them already do have (cameras installed),” he added. “We’re just trying to create awareness, connect to resources and be the focal point to help them out. It’s really just kind of figuring out the different options, what they are interested in doing, and helping them facilitate that.”

Lam said the Port does not have a policy of putting security cameras on buildings being leased to private business owners.

“We want to make sure that (they have) privacy, and however they want to manage that, that’s their right,” Lam said. “It’s kind of weird, right? Like, how would you feel if someone rented you a house and put a camera on your house? It’s for security reasons, certainly, but then it also is kind of this weird ‘big brother’ kind of thing as well. We haven’t had a conversation with tenants about that at all.”