When Hunger Meets a Paying Job

Two years after a nighttime shoplifting incident in southwest Portland, the shoplifter has filed a lawsuit against the grocery clerk who chased him. At the time, Joshua Merkel said he took more than $100 worth of food without paying because he was hungry—and claimed the clerk’s response left him with a fractured jaw. Surveillance video shows the clerk running after Merkel outside, but the actual fight happens off-camera. Those who saw the video later described the scene as confusing; one person in the footage even appeared to cover their face in shock. Merkel later told the court his actions that night were a mistake, but things escalated quickly. He said the clerk yelled at him, chased him across the parking lot, and then violently attacked him when Merkel tried to get to his girlfriend’s car. Court records show Merkel ended up in the emergency room with visible injuries the next day. The clerk, however, told police he was just trying to stop a theft and described it as a brief struggle—not an assault. Despite the police report, a jury found the clerk not guilty in September.The case throws light on a bigger trend: shoplifting in Portland has risen sharply over the past five years. Police now receive over 10, 000 reports each year, a huge jump from just 3, 000 in 2020. Some of that increase might be due to better reporting, not necessarily more theft. Still, businesses have closed down across the city, and many blame unchecked theft for their struggles. A security expert warns that untrained employees shouldn’t try to stop shoplifters physically. His advice: focus on the job—ringing up groceries—not chasing after criminals. What started as a single theft now raises questions. Was it an example of harsh justice, or a breakdown of how stores handle crime? Some say the real issue is deeper—people stealing because they feel they have no other options. Others argue shoplifting hurts small businesses already struggling to stay open. Whatever the cause, this case shows how quickly a situation can turn from petty theft to courtroom drama.