Bike Theft Task Force helps nab ‘prolific’ garage burglar

David Dutcherson.(Photo: PPB)
Joshua Dutcherson.
(Photo: PPB)

The Portland Police Bureau has nabbed another big-time thief who has a taste for high-end bicycles.

The PPB worked with officers from the Bike Theft Task Force and task force partner BikeIndex.org to arrest Joshua Dutcherson last Thursday. The 32-year-old suspect is being held in connection with three burglaries of apartment complex garages where he’s accused of lifting “numerous bicycles.”

Here’s how it went down, via the official police statement about the case:

The Bike Index website (https://bikeindex.org/) was instrumental in identifying some of the stolen bikes. An off-duty detective saw a suspicious van with three high end racing bikes the week prior and took note of the plate and the driver. While officers were investigating some new bike thefts the detective recognized the suspect and the vehicle as the same one he had seen a week prior…

Dutcherson is believed to have burglarized several locations in Southeast Portland to steal bicycles and re-sell them online. Dutcherson is suspected of breaking into locations in the 2600 block of Southeast Ankeny Street, the 1300 block of Southeast Umatilla Street and the 1600 block of Southeast Harold Street.

Detectives recovered three stolen bikes from Dutcherson who had already sold them to unsuspecting buyers. Detectives were able to locate the bikes and returned them to their rightful owners.

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Dutcherson was booked into Multnomah County Jail on four counts of Burglary in the First Degree, three counts of Theft in the First Degree, Possession of Heroin, and Theft in the First Degree by Receiving. Dutcherson had outstanding warrants and was on probation for burglary when he was arrested.

This arrest is the result of closer coordination between the Police Bureau and members of the Bike Theft Task Force which includes Bryan Hance from Bike Index and is spearheaded by PPB Officers Dave Bryant and Dave Sanders. One of the major fronts of recent battles has been OfferUp, an online marketplace that’s an alternative to Craigslist and eBay. OfferUp and the Bike Theft Task Force have been actively working together to crack down on bike thieves — and it looks like these efforts are starting to pay off.

— Jonathan Maus, (503) 706-8804 – jonathan@bikeportland.org

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Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Pedal PT
7 years ago

Score another one for the good guys! If you haven’t done it yet- be register ALL of your bike(s) on BikeIndex.org !

Eric Leifsdad
Eric Leifsdad
7 years ago
Reply to  Pedal PT

At least keep a record of your serial number and a picture of your bike.

Middle of the Road Guy
Middle of the Road Guy
7 years ago

So what is a suitable punishment?

Ted Timmons (Contributor)

What about suitable rehabilitation?

Middle of the Road Guy
Middle of the Road Guy
7 years ago

I don’t think the are mutually exclusive. The man has apparently wronged a lot of people. They deserve some justice, in my opinion.

Zimmerman
Zimmerman
7 years ago

Punishment, being held to suffer the consequences of an illegal felony action, is a form of rehabilitation. It might not be effective as the sole form of rehabilitation but it’s an important part.

Edward
Edward
7 years ago
Reply to  Zimmerman

Our system of punishment and rehabilitation is broken, and this has an effect on the bike community.

The Department of Corrections portion of our state budget is HUGE. In 2001-2003 the State spent a little over $400 million to lock up a little over four thousand people.* And the projections only go up. For 2017-19, they think they’ll need $800 million to lock up about nine thousand people. That’s twice the budget. Now I’m not saying people who are convicted shouldn’t get punished or shouldn’t go to prison, but are we getting what we are paying for? Are we twice as safe? I’m pretty sure my bike isn’t twice as safe as it was in 2003. Now think about the bike infrastructure we could have for that extra $400 million.

Some people say it costs around $40k – $50k to keep somebody locked up for a year. Just for the sake of argument, assume this guy gets ten years. That’s a funding decision of $400,000 – $500,000 on just this guy. How many scholarships to Oregon colleges did he just steal? Or whatever other State program you want instead? It’s a lot.

I just wanted y’all to think about some of that as you casually type, “lock him up forever!” Yeah, I’d like this guy to be off the streets. But I also want other things, like the ability to send my kids to college and some bike infrastructure so they can get around safely.

* Those numbers I took from the Department of Corrections budget graph on page 5 of 71 available at: https://www.oregon.gov/doc/ADMIN/docs/pdf/operations_lab_15-17.pdf

BB
BB
7 years ago
Reply to  Edward

Two words: Alaskan Gulag

dwk
dwk
7 years ago

“Dutcherson had outstanding warrants and was on probation for burglary when he was arrested.”
I think rehabilation has already been attempted……

wsbob
wsbob
7 years ago

Suitable punishment? Suitable rehabilitation?

What is it that’s going to work towards having this person put his energies and skills towards doing something legal, to make a living? If the info about Dutcherson’s arrests, is accurate, in Random’s comment via this link:

http://bikeportland.org/2016/09/26/bike-theft-task-force-helps-nab-prolific-garage-burglar-192245#comment-6702370

…so far, whatever arrests or rehab, dutcherson has been subject to, doesn’t seem to be working. Story says he’s 32 yrs old. Given the right circumstances, that’s young enough for some people to get their life turned around to something better than crime.

Given the 10 or so arrests this guy may have, someone in the justice and court system may know his story, and what his chances of getting away from crime may be.

Lester Burnham
Lester Burnham
7 years ago

Who cares as long he goes away forever.

Buzz
Buzz
7 years ago

restitution to all of his victims

Random
Random
7 years ago

Since he is a “non-violent” criminal, not much will happen to him.

Or do you think mere burglars get long sentences in Multnomah County?

Random
Random
7 years ago
Reply to  Random

Quick perusal – Dutcherson was also arrested in January, June, and October 2014, March, July, August and November 2015, and January, February, April, and May of 2016. (A couple of the arrests were in Washington County.)

I may have missed some.

I’m sure they’ll throw the book at him this time.

Mike 2
Mike 2
7 years ago
Reply to  Random

He just needs some rehabilitation. A second chance and a good support network and I’m sure he will become a fine, upstanding citizen. He’s definitely learned his lesson.

Todd Hudson
Todd Hudson
7 years ago
Reply to  Mike 2

Judging by his arrest record, a second chance (and third, fourth, fifth, and sixth chances) didn’t work for him.

Mike 2
Mike 2
7 years ago
Reply to  Todd Hudson

But the 13th chance is the one!

9watts
9watts
7 years ago

Joshua Dutcherson or David Dutcherson?
Confused.

Chris
Chris
7 years ago

Lester Burnham
Who cares as long he goes away forever.
Recommended 1

Forever??

Lester Burnham
Lester Burnham
7 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Forever.

soren
soren
7 years ago
Reply to  Lester Burnham

Sharia law?

Brian
Brian
7 years ago
Reply to  soren

Cut off his hand?

Zimmerman
Zimmerman
7 years ago
Reply to  soren

Under Sharia law he’d have stopped stealing bikes the first time. It’s hard to operate bolt cutters without hands.

Caitlin D
7 years ago

Nice work, Bike Theft Task Force!

rachel b
rachel b
7 years ago
Reply to  Caitlin D

Hear, hear!

Mitch Lomacz
Mitch Lomacz
7 years ago
Reply to  ac

This does look very much like the guy who robbed us!

Buzz
Buzz
7 years ago

Some photos of him in action from KOIN here:
comment image?w=639comment image?w=300&h=225

pooperazzi
pooperazzi
7 years ago

The technology exists to prevent bike thefts (and car thefts) entirely – an inexpensive GPS unit that goes inside the frame – looks like these are being developed, though unsure what the cost will be – http://www.sherlock.bike/en/home/

Scott Sallay
Scott Sallay
7 years ago
Reply to  pooperazzi

Looks like you need a cellular plan for each device/bike. That’s fairly cost-prohibitive.
There are other systems that don’t require a cellular plan, but none seem to be taking off very well. I have an iota tracker, but the coverage in Portland isn’t very good.

Zimmerman
Zimmerman
7 years ago
Reply to  pooperazzi

That’s not going to prevent a theft, it’s just a way to find your frame that’s been stripped down, repainted flat black and chucked into the bushes near a bike path.

pooperazzi
pooperazzi
7 years ago
Reply to  Zimmerman

I think the device is designed to be incongruous and I doubt most thieves immediately remove the bar end plugs. Sure, if you wait 2 weeks before tracking it, you might be out of luck. But to deride this technology as wholly ineffective is terribly short-sighted IMO

pooperazzi
pooperazzi
7 years ago
Reply to  pooperazzi

^not be incongruous rather

Zimmerman
Zimmerman
7 years ago
Reply to  pooperazzi

Two weeks? A bike can be stripped down to the frame in less than 30 minutes.

My point still stands, it will not prevent a theft but it might help you get a bike back. It has to be stolen first in order to get it back…

pooperazzi
pooperazzi
7 years ago
Reply to  Zimmerman

Yes the goal would be to increase the opportunity to recover it, perhaps from 1% to 50% – it’s not perfect

Scott
Scott
7 years ago
Reply to  pooperazzi

The thief will always be better than the technology. Always.

Mike 2
Mike 2
7 years ago
Reply to  pooperazzi

Wrong. This does not prevent theft any more than a smoke detector prevents fires. It will tell you where your stolen bike or car is.

John Liu
John Liu
7 years ago

When did we as a society become afraid to punish criminals? When did we start devoting more kindness to criminals than to their victims?

Adam
Adam
7 years ago
Reply to  John Liu

I know. I hate to say it, but stuff like this is why people become more conservative as they age. I know I do.

J_R
J_R
7 years ago
Reply to  Adam

Part of it is aging; part of it is experience. I’m much more ready to seek punishment after having my house broken into; my car vandalized; my car broken into; two bicycles stolen. The bikes were stolen from work locations, but the other crimes were committed in a “good” neighborhood. Is my attitude due to aging or frustration that I’m spending good money to replace and repair stuff that criminals take or destroy?

Ted Timmons (Contributor)
Reply to  John Liu

What do you see as being afraid to punish and/or showing kindness? The comments? The sentencing by the judges? I don’t know anything about why this person has bounced in and out so many times.

rachel b
rachel b
7 years ago

Yes–his record of being caught and then bounced so many times–that’s indicative of what John Liu referred to, I’d say. Or our (police and judges) making excuses for speeding drivers and ‘protecting’ them from the consequences of their actions, even if they result in someone else’s death or injury. We even tacitly, societally endorse lame excuses–“radar’s unfair! speed traps are unfair!” Hence, we don’t enforce. We (all of us, City Hall, police, advocates) make excuses for homeless campers who are committing criminal acts and destroying public property while we enable every heroin addict for miles around.

We excuse so much bad behavior nowadays and come up with so many “good” reasons for people doing rotten things. We’re all just supposed to roll with so much wretched acting out and boorishness (at the very least), anymore.

It reminds me of how parenting styles have shifted in the past 20 years. Nobody wants to lay down the law. Nobody wants to be the parent. Nobody wants to be called (gud forbid!) ‘uncompassionate’ or ‘uncool.’

Random
Random
7 years ago
Reply to  rachel b

It is the stated policy of Multnomah County to avoid jailing non-violent offenders.

This sounds nice, humane, and liberal, but the continued illegal activities of people like Mr. Dutcherson, despite repeated arrests, are a consequence of this policy.

rachel b
rachel b
7 years ago
Reply to  Random

Nobody learns anything without consequences.

Brian
Brian
7 years ago
Reply to  rachel b

Dolphins learn to jump through hoops with only reinforcers. Or maybe they get beat behind the scenes if they don’t perform? Damnit.

CaptainKarma
7 years ago
Reply to  Brian

Dolphins get free health care.

Brian
Brian
7 years ago
Reply to  CaptainKarma

And food and shelter. Though the food looks much better than the shelter.

Middle of the Road Guy
Middle of the Road Guy
7 years ago
Reply to  Brian

There is reinforcement for act and there is avoidance of acting. Both are behavioral.

Jumping through a hoop does not harm other people. Theft does but there is an incentive to do it. We try to disincentivize theft through punishment, meaning that the thief avoids acting because of the consequences.

Much of what we do as a society and as individuals is to avoid negative outcomes from an action.

rachel b
rachel b
7 years ago

Well said MOTRG. Didn’t see this when I commented–held?

rachel b
rachel b
7 years ago
Reply to  Brian

Consequence: the result of an action or condition. Everything we do, including your weird example of oh so happy “reinforced” dolphins–look how they frisk and play in their 8×9 pens, culled from their families!–is a result of consequences. I think you misunderstand me.

rachel b
rachel b
7 years ago
Reply to  rachel b

(or maybe I misunderstood you? in which case–sorry)

Middle of the Road Guy
Middle of the Road Guy
7 years ago
Reply to  rachel b

Rachel, I am on auto-moderation because sometimes I say things that are not supportive of cyclists.

Middle of the Road Guy
Middle of the Road Guy
7 years ago
Reply to  rachel b

And I was commenting on Brian’s statement…not yours. I tend to agree with almost everything you put out there. Objective and rational!

Brian
Brian
7 years ago
Reply to  rachel b

I was being a dork with the example, but studying Behavior is a pretty big part of my life which means I tend to enter into discussions about Behavior with a nerdy perspective. We are just using different definitions for the word “consequence,” and I definitely get what you mean. Cheers!

rachel b
rachel b
7 years ago
Reply to  rachel b

When I reread your post (almost immediately after I responded), I picked up on that, Brian. Apologies for the knee-jerk response! I’m too ready to be leapt on by self-appointed ‘compassion’ reminders after comments like mine. Curious now about what you do–I am a mere lay anthropologist!

And thanks, MOTRG. 🙂 Though I have to give Jonathan a huge round of applause for staying on top of the comments–I would not want the job!

Middle of the Road Guy
Middle of the Road Guy
7 years ago
Reply to  rachel b

JM,

I actually consider everything I say. I also take the approach that an individual is responsible for (and in control of) their own emotions and they can choose if they want to be offended or bothered by something someone else says. I’m not a mind reader of what other people find bothersome, nor should I be. I think it is intellectually arrogant to assume to know what others think or feel.

Middle of the Road Guy
Middle of the Road Guy
7 years ago
Reply to  rachel b

Rachel,

I work in IT doing workflow analysis and process development but I studied Evolutionary Biology as an undergrad and Environmental/Transportation policy in grad school. However, sociobiology and evolutionary psychology is/was my real academic interests.

Buzz
Buzz
7 years ago
Reply to  John Liu

We punish people criminally for all the wrong things, like possession of minor amounts of cannabis; as a result there isn’t enough room in our jails for the real criminals who deserve to be there. Plus our prisons are entirely ineffective at rehabilitation and as a result recidivism rates are sky-high.

Random
Random
7 years ago
Reply to  Buzz

“We punish people criminally for all the wrong things, like possession of minor amounts of cannabis”

I seriously doubt that many people were in jail in Multnomah County for the “possession of minor amounts of cannabis”, even before it was legalized.

Buzz
Buzz
7 years ago
Reply to  Random

depends if you’re white or black; black w a gram standing on a street corner = ‘dealer’ = potential hard time unless you’ve got the kind of lawyer you can’t afford

Edward
Edward
7 years ago
Reply to  John Liu

“We” didn’t. In fact I think it is quite the opposite. We lock up more people than just about any other country on earth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_incarceration_rate#United_States

We should be talking about getting “bang” for our corrections “buck”.

John Liu
John Liu
7 years ago

We have a brand new jail sitting empty . . .

caesar
caesar
7 years ago

He looks so sad. Like a younger Rudy Giuliani.

Stephen Keller
Stephen Keller
7 years ago
Reply to  caesar

Most people are sad when caught. True remorse, however, only comes when the sadness arises not from getting caught but from realizing the ill one has done.

Buzz
Buzz
7 years ago
Reply to  Stephen Keller

not sad, just wishing for another bump of heroin…

CaptainKarma
7 years ago

What we need then it seems, is another fee/tax. Instead of the Arts tax, another $30 – $50 annual “keep the bike thieves in jail tax”. Presumably everyone here is paying their Arts tax, of course.

Lester Burnham
Lester Burnham
7 years ago
Reply to  CaptainKarma

Arts Tax…boo!

Buzz
Buzz
7 years ago
Reply to  Lester Burnham

IMO the arts tax is something i actually support at least in concept, way better than funding endless foreign wars

jeff
jeff
7 years ago
Reply to  CaptainKarma

it could show up as a stupid, separate “bill” and only about 50% of the people will pay it!

Stephen Keller
Stephen Keller
7 years ago
Reply to  jeff

A better solution would be to make bikes more difficult to steal. For example, if they weighed 2500 pounds each, had complex locks and security systems as well as electronics that governed their operation and limited unauthorized use…, oh wait!

Middle of the Road Guy
Middle of the Road Guy
7 years ago
Reply to  CaptainKarma

Bring back wooden stocks and let the public throw garbage at them. Nothing works like a good public shaming.

Brian
Brian
7 years ago

rachel b
When I reread your post (almost immediately after I responded), I picked up on that, Brian. Apologies for the knee-jerk response! I’m too ready to be leapt on by self-appointed ‘compassion’ reminders after comments like mine. Curious now about what you do–I am a mere lay anthropologist!
And thanks, MOTRG. Though I have to give Jonathan a huge round of applause for staying on top of the comments–I would not want the job!
Recommended 0

I am a high school special education teacher. I work with students who have mild disabilities (well, mild for the most part) in a full inclusion model in an Engineering/Bio-Med focused high school.
Anthropology classes were some of my favorite undergrad courses. What is your focus?

Brian
Brian
7 years ago
Reply to  Brian

And no apologies needed. I’m not easily offended and don’t read too deeply into things.

rachel b
rachel b
7 years ago
Reply to  Brian

You and MOTRG have interesting work! I’m a writer/editor and musician–and as I alluded earlier, endlessly fascinated with human behavior and what makes us tick, though no expert. 🙂