A Portland man has been arrested in connection with a large-scale fencing operation involving stolen retail goods. The Gresham Police Department (GPD) announced the arrest of Said Alawi on Sunday morning after months of investigation into the sale of stolen merchandise in both Portland and Gresham.
The arrest followed a coordinated operation involving search warrants executed at the Oregon Flea Market in Gresham and Alawi’s home in Portland. During the searches, police recovered thousands of stolen items — including clothing, hygiene products, cosmetics, and various household goods — initially estimated at over $10,000 in value.
However, authorities later revised that figure, stating they had seized approximately 20,000 items, with a retail value potentially totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. The stolen goods are believed to have been taken from well-known retailers such as TJX, Fred Meyer, GAP Inc., and Macy’s.
While police did not confirm whether Alawi was reselling the items at significantly reduced prices, they cautioned the public to be wary of vendors offering goods far below market value, as such items may be stolen.
Alawi is now facing charges of aggravated first-degree theft and organized retail crime. GPD did not say whether additional arrests are expected or if the Oregon Flea Market had knowledge of the illegal activity.
The case highlights the growing problem of organized retail crime, which continues to impact businesses and consumers alike.
