Two Bend businesses latest victims of major thefts

(Update: Adding video, more information and quotes; police say theft nos. are down)

Cash register stolen from one, classic car the other

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- VR Garage in Bend has been in business for about eight years, and experienced a first the other day: a stolen vehicle.

Early Tuesday morning, the owners discovered one of the classic cars they had been working on was hot wired and driven off their lot. It was a 1962 classic Chevrolet pickup valued between $25,000 and $40,000.

“It’s a very uneasy feeling, for sure," Adam Huddart, the owner at VR Garage, said Thursday. "I feel quite violated, even though it wasn’t our vehicle. It’s an unfortunate situation."

And at the Midtown Salon in Bend, burglars broke down the back door and stole a cash register.

“When I came in, the door was kicked in," said Rick Skinner, a stylist at the salon. "They took our cash register -- which is pretty normal, if they are going to steal something.”

Skinner said his salon has been the victim of theft a number of times since he's been in Bend, but it was the first time this location on NE Eighth Street was burglarized. He said he and his daughter will have to pay more than $500 to replace the door and cash register.

According to Bend police, thefts are actually down so far this year, compared to last year. Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 17, 2020, 215 theft cases were reported to police. This year, that number is down 6%, to 203 cases.

"Unfortunately, times are changing," Huddart said. "It’s something you don’t want to accept, but we have to, a little bit, and be more aware of it.”

Huddart is asking anyone who may have information about the stolen vehicle to contact Bend police.