Southeast Portland News

PORTLAND, Ore. – Thieves are finding a bold new way to rip you off. In Southeast Portland, it's happening over and over again.

Some neighbors around Southeast 64th Avenue and Raymond Street woke up to find the hood of their cars ajar.

It turns out that crooks are after car batteries.

They work quickly work to get under the hood, cut out the lights and rip out the battery. One homeowner explained how, one morning, a row of cars all had their hoods slightly open – a sign that thieves had ripped a off a number of people in this area alone.

Thieves popped Krista Hart's hood: "And there's [the spot for] the missing battery," she tells us.

They swiped her brand new battery, despite outside lights shining directly on the car.

She's no stranger to this problem.

"This one was the first time," said Hart, then pointing to another car. "This one they nabbed twice and that one twice."

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Police are looking for three suspects involved in the stabbing of a woman in southeast Portland Thursday night.

The victim, identified as Karen Mosbrucker, 54, was confronted by two men and a woman just before 8 p.m. as she was getting off a bus near Southeast Crystal Springs and Southeast 80th Avenue.

Police said one of the suspects stabbed Mosbrucker several times, but that her injuries are non-life threatening. She was taken to a hospital.

Investigators have not released any specific suspect information or a possible motive for the stabbing.

Police did not say if a robbery or other crime was involved, or if Mosbrucker knew her attackers.

An investigation is continuing.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Some southeast Portland residents woke to cloudy or dirty tap water Thursday morning after a truck hit a fire hydrant on Division Street near 112th Avenue, causing a water main to break.

The broken main caused thousands of gallons to gush down Division Street, prompting a partial closure from Southeast 105th to 130th Avenue.

Crews worked through the night to repair the broken pipe and said they might still be working at the site by the evening commute.

The broken water main also created a large sinkhole in Division Street. Some residents reported cloudy or dirty water but water bureau officials said customers should just let their water run until it clears. No warnings were issued.

Crews at the scene said they were routing water service around the broken main so nearby customers should not lose water service while the work to repair the pipe is under way.

Adventist Medical Center is offering free heart screenings on Sunday, Feb. 7 in the Northwest Regional Heart Center at 10000 S.E. Main Street.

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