Arrest made following a series of break-ins across Eugene

An arrest was made recently in a string of break-ins and thefts from several small businesses across Eugene in 2024 and 2025.

Raymond Joseph Janczyk, a 55-year-old homeless man, has been charged with several misdemeanors and felonies connected to the incidents.

Anita and Vivek Pasharar own New Frontier Market and the Indian food cart parked out front. Theirs was one of several Eugene businesses broken into. They had property damaged and stolen, including electrical wires that were cut and taken.

The Pasharars are glad there was an arrest, but are worried about future break-ins.

“I’m happy, but what is the benefit for me? Nothing,” Anita Pasharar said. 

The couple said they are upset it took so long to make an arrest, even though the Pasharars say they captured a person on a security camera video and told police where they believed he was known to camp.

The Pasharars said their food cart, where Anita Vivek serves her home-style North Indian food, has been broken into five times. The incident that occurred on or about Nov. 24, 2024, was the first time they reported it to the police because there wasn’t a video system set up to record the prior incidents. Each time their business has been damaged, they have strengthened fencing and added more security measures. 

The building was first vandalized shortly after they took over New Frontier Market from the prior owner in early 2024. Statues of Ganesha were broken and stolen along with other items outside the building.  

The site was damaged again 15 days later. Anita Pasharar said it broke her heart.

“The second time it happened, (a person) stole all my paintings, everything people had given me for gifts after we opened,” she said. “I shut down the food cart. I didn’t want to do that. It broke my heart. Just too much. It emotionally hurt when (the person) steals the statues and (breaks) these things.”

A GoFundMe raised $705 to assist with replacing damaged items and adding additional security. 

Now, the Pasharars say, they don’t even leave the “open” sign outside of the food cart, or else it will get stolen. But, they praise their neighbors and regular customers who encouraged them to continue, helped them recover from the damage, and keep an eye out for repeat incidents. 

Vivek Pasharar said the food truck is not completely repaired. He said their insurance company won’t pay unless a local person fixes it, but he can’t find anyone in Eugene to handle repairs. He said he would have to take it to Portland for repair, but doesn’t have the funds for that. 

Anita Pasharar still feels the sting of the damage.

“In the food business people work very hard, very hard, you know,” she said. “And if one person tries to destroy a big multinational company, they can be ok, because it is big business. But small business people are just surviving.”

Break-ins outlined in court documents

“In September 2024, a Eugene Police Property Crimes Unit detective began investigating a series of business and food cart burglaries around Eugene. Over the next six months more victims reported additional burglaries,” the announcement about the Janczyk arrest said.  “The investigation involved evidence collection and image comparisons as well as assistance from EPD patrol. As a result, the detective was able to identify 55-year-old Raymond Joseph Janczyk as the suspect.”

Janczyk was taken into custody April 23 by the EPD Property Crimes Unit. 

He was arrested on outstanding warrants for theft in the second degree and a parole violation. He faces additional charges, including multiple misdemeanors and felonies related to the break-ins.

Incidents allegedly tied to Janczyk include:

• Jan. 1, 2025: Theft of property from a residence in the 1100 block of Railroad Boulevard
• April 19, 2025: Intentionally damaging a glass door at Elegant Elephant, located in the Mahonia Building at Shelton McMurphey Boulevard. A Register-Guard report said damage to the Elegant Elephant was nearly $4,000 
• Sept. 29, 2024: Unlawfully entering a building at 650 Blair Blvd. with the intent to commit theft
• Oct. 21, 2024: Damaging windows and property of food truck El Buen Sabor, 650 Blair Blvd
• Oct. 8, 2024: Burglary and criminal mischief for entering the building of B&G Automotive, 1330 W. 6th Ave.; damaging a gate and a door belonging to Carlito’s Pupuseria, a food truck parked at the 6th Avenue location
• March 17, 2025:, Unlawfully entering a building at 327 W. 4th Ave., next door to Headquarters Wine Bar
• April 6, 2025: Unlawfully entering 150 Shelton McMurphey Blvd., the Stellaria Building, which houses a number of small businesses
• April 15/17, 2025: Criminal trespass and one count of criminal mischief for two incidents of entering a private residence
• March 1, 2025: Entering La Palmerita Hondurena food truck at 725 Olive Street on or about March 1
• March 11, 2025: Burglary at 120 Shelton McMurphey Blvd