Vehicle vandalisms on the east side of Portland have topped 500, police say, and a series of neighborhood meetings are underway to let neighbors know what they can do.

The incidents began in May, and have been concentrated in the Alameda, Irvington, Rose City, and Grant Park neighborhoods. The vandalisms, targeted at the tires of SUVs, trucks, and vans parked on the street, have expanded into Brooklyn, Laurelhurst, Hosford-Abernethy, Richmond, Sunnyside, Sellwood-Moreland, and Kerns neighborhoods.

Portland Police Bureau’s Crime Analysis Unit reports that 20 – 25 new reports are filed each week. The vandalisms occur every day of the week at night. Total damages are estimated at up to $500,000.

Neighbors in New Orleans and Philadelphia have organized to install a network of cameras in their high-crime neighborhoods. Philly’s SafeCams8 includes 2,400 cameras, while NOLA’s network has 1,200. Philly police said they’ve made 191 arrests based on the two-year-old program.

Would this kind of program work in Portland? Are the intrusions into privacy worth the potential for reducing crime?

Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest in this case, or any unsolved felony. The tip provider can remain anonymous. Reach Crime Stoppers by phone at 503-823-4357, or text CRIMES (274637) with 823HELP and the tip. Go to http://www.tipsoft.com to download the Crime Stoppers app for the iPhone or Droid.

PPB offers suggestions to avoid being a victim of the vehicle vandalisms after the jump. 

* Park your vehicle off the street and in a garage, if possible.

* Enhance your exterior lighting: leave porch lights on at night, add motion sensor lighting to the garage and add pathway or sidewalk solar lighting. Prune trees or bushes that obstruct light.

* If you have exterior video cameras, turn them toward the street to capture activity and people near vehicles parked on the street.

Sunnyside/Buckman/Kerns/Laurelhurst/Hosford-Abernethy/Richmond Neighborhoods

     Wed, Nov 13 * 6:30 pm – 8 pm * Southeast Uplift, Fireside Room * 3534 SE Main Street 

Brooklyn/Sellwood-Moreland/Neighborhoods

     Thurs, Nov 14 * 7 pm – 8:30 pm * Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie                                                                                                          

Grant Park/Rose City Park/Beaumont-Wilshire/Hollywood Neighborhoods

     Tues, Nov 19 * 6:30 – 8 pm * Grant Park Church, 2728 NE 34th               

Alameda/Irvington/Sabin Neighborhoods

     Wed, Nov 20 * 6:30 pm – 8 pm * Alameda School Cafeteria, 2732 NE Fremont