DAMASCUS, Ore. — A family-owned garden center in Damascus is reeling after a late-night act of vandalism caused thousands of dollars in damage, shattering pots, toppling shelves, and leaving a trail of destruction through one of the area’s most beloved local businesses.
According to owner Tony Karam, the incident occurred in the early morning hours of October 10, 2025, at Tony’s Garden Center, a popular nursery known for its plants, pottery, and gardening supplies. Karam told KOIN 6 News that he received a call from his staff on Friday morning reporting that the facility had been broken into and ransacked overnight.
“When I showed up, we all thought it might’ve been an animal or maybe a deer,” Karam said. “But after seeing how much damage there was, we definitely knew it wasn’t an animal.”
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Scene of Destruction
The damage stretched across several sections of the property. Employees arrived to find broken ceramic pots, fertilizer bags torn open, and plants scattered across the floors of multiple greenhouses. The vandal had knocked over displays, smashed equipment, and left an extensive mess that took hours to clean up.
Karam said his team had to close off large portions of the garden center to customers while they worked to restore order. “We tried to stay open for business, but that whole area had to be shut down for most of the day,” he explained.
Although the store was able to reopen later, Karam estimates the total damage to be as high as $10,000—a painful loss for a small, family-run business that relies heavily on community support.
Caught on Camera
It wasn’t until that evening that Karam reviewed surveillance footage from the night before. Around 2 a.m., cameras captured a single suspect entering one of the greenhouses and stealing several plants before returning to take more.
But after taking the items to their car, the individual returned once again—this time, not to steal, but to destroy.
“They kind of went on a rampage,” Karam recalled. “Jumping up and down on pots, smashing things, throwing stuff around—it was heartbreaking to watch.”
Security images released by the garden center show a person dressed in dark clothing moving through the property. Karam is now working closely with investigators to identify the suspect. “It would just be great to figure out who it was and why they did it,” he said. “I can understand taking a plant—people do that sometimes—but to cause that much destruction, it was devastating.”
Community Support
Despite the blow, Karam says the outpouring of kindness from the community has been overwhelming. Regular customers, neighboring businesses, and even strangers have reached out to offer help and words of encouragement.
“I think what really stood out to me was how quickly people came together,” Karam said. “Customers have stopped by just to check in, send messages, and make sure we’re okay. That means more to me than what actually happened.”
Residents in Damascus expressed anger and disappointment over the incident, calling Tony’s Garden Center a local gem and community gathering spot. Many have taken to social media to share support and encourage anyone with information to contact police.
Investigation Continues
Local authorities are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing nearby residents who may have seen or heard something that night. As of Sunday, no arrests have been made, and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate.
Karam says he’s focused on rebuilding and moving forward. “It’s upsetting, sure,” he said, “but this won’t stop us. We’ll clean it up, restock, and keep doing what we love.”
For now, Tony’s Garden Center remains open for business—its rows of flowers and plants standing as a quiet reminder of resilience after a night of senseless destruction.
