Urban Disorder: Petty Theft Leads to Fatal Crash in Portland

Misdemeanor theft cases dropped 60 percent from 2019 to 2023 in Multnomah County thanks to ‘catch and release’ policies

A Portland thief who stole copper wire from a traffic light box caused a fatal crash earlier this month when a motorcyclist barreled through the non-operational light. It’s the sort of petty theft that normally goes unpunished in the left-wing city.

The motorcyclist, 52-year-old James P. Goldsmith, died on Dec. 11 after colliding with a semi-truck. The drivers failed to see each other after traffic piled up at the intersection thanks to the broken light. Portland authorities determined a thief had cut wiring in the traffic box and absconded with the copper wire inside, causing the signal failure before the crash. They have not identified a suspect.

The incident comes as Portland fails to hold petty thieves accountable and offers a demonstration of the cascading effect of small-time crime into urban disorder and even death.

A months-long investigation conducted by the Oregonian in 2024 found that petty theft suspects in Portland—typically those who target retail stores—often evade prosecution. Misdemeanor theft cases dropped 60 percent between 2019 and 2023, suggesting many suspects are never charged.

A 2022 Oregon bail reform law compounded the issue by encouraging jails to release defendants accused of low-level crimes within hours of arrest. As a result, when there are charges, more than 85 percent of retail theft suspects fail to appear in court and 70 percent are not convicted, according to the Oregonian.

“It’s catch and release,” a Portland business owner whose stores have been targeted told the outlet. “It’s the same 10, 20, 30, 40 people who are creating tons and tons of havoc and are tying up all sorts of resources.”