how about stealing a bike? I bet they would send the swat team after a bike case.

How true. The thief in this case will probably be up for a Spirit of Portland Award.

Typical Tri-Met response, too. According to the Friday Portland Business Journal article, Hachem's private customers found out by 22 December that Hachem had apparently skipped, & took steps to try to recover their property & enforce liens. But Tri-Met, which routinely called them to pick up cars & didn't expect payment for four months (!), kept on trying to do business with Hachem - Mary Fetsch is quoted as saying that they first learned of the problem about a month ago, when they called Hachem's outfit to pick up more Tri-Met property to sell. See: http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2010/02/08/story3.html?b=1265605200^2843371&page=2

Sleep well, Citizens!

Our Diversity may not make us Strong, but it provides a more interesting police blotter. The apparent absconder, Fadi Hachem, seems to be the same guy whose wife Suzanne sued their Forest Park neighbor, a Ukrainian welfare cheat with a new SUV and $200,000 in a pickle jar, last year for the "hate crime" of shooting into their house on three separate occasions for praying too loud. (Whatever happened to old fashioned attempted murder?) The stories don't say if wife & kids are still around, which the cops might want to find out if they choose to pursue the theft angle. I wouldn't hold my breath. For what it's worth, DMV shows Hachem's business had bond & insurance running through late 2010, but those may be inadequate for a 30 car loss.

But Tri-Met, which routinely called them to pick up cars & didn't expect payment for four months (!), kept on trying to do business with Hachem - Mary Fetsch is quoted as saying that they first learned of the problem about a month ago, when they called Hachem's outfit to pick up more Tri-Met property to sell.

Wow, sounds JUST like the Colorado Railcar debacle!!! Knew of the problems, company refused to put up performance bonds, company had virtually ZERO track record...and yet TriMet went full bore all the way to bailing out the company, paying the light and phone bills and ensuring payroll was made...and that great "warranty" that was promised! HA!

Does TriMet do business with any LEGITIMATE companies?

I hear he might be running for City Council.

Snort. Anthony, I had firsthand experience with that, right after I moved to Portland and had my bike stolen out in front of my apartment building. I came out to find the lock cut and the bike gone, and Portland Finest's response, as when my ex-wife's car was broken into, was to send me a report to fill out by mail.

Now, if the Portland police hear a report of a caiman hiding in the Willamette, then it's no expense spared, especially if the three-foot critter might die in the cold. After all, bike and car thefts are mundane, but showing moron TV reporters goose tracks on a sandbar and claiming that they're caiman tracks are always good to show the neighbors that the police are on the case.