What do Sam and Officer McGruff have in Common?

By Jane Ames

A car prowl is a crime of opportunity. In 2001, Portland experienced an average of 91/day. An experienced car prowler can take less than 30 seconds to complete the crime, hence only about 1% of cases end up in an arrest.

With Mayor Tom Potter, Sam led collaborative efforts in the Office of Transportation (PDOT) with the Police Bureau and the Office of Neighborhood Involvement on a project to help reduce car prowls.

Officer McGruff, Please Rememberthe Crime Prevention Dog from "Take a Bite Out of Crime" joins the effort with his appearance on the public service signs afixed at all City on street parking meters. State Farm joined the collaboration as the sponsor with a $25,000 contribution to reduce the project costs to taxpayers.

Compliments go to Ruth Lane in PDOT for her good work as project manager, to Portland Officer Jeff Myers for his diligent efforts on car prowl prevention and his collaboration on this effort. And compliments to ONI's Stephanie Reynolds and Walter Garcia for creation of the website.

Pay Station with Anti-Car-Prowl SignBecause a car break-in is such a difficult crime to combat with enforcement, the key to reducing car prowls is to eliminate the motivation, or the opportunity. Removing valuables from our vehicles is the simplest, most effective prevention tool we can each use to discourage a would-be thief.

The parking pay stations in downtown Portland are now adorned with signs reminding us to "Take our Valuables with Us". It isn't that downtown Portland is unsafe, but as a concentrated business district, it is a logical place for reminders to make an impact. The signs are accompanied by matching flyers which police, parking enforcement officers, business districts, parking lot managers, and volunteers are leaving on cars in various districts. The message and the effort is based on the simple premise that a car prowler is the "ultimate window shopper"; if they see nothing worth taking your car will remain untouched.

Enforcement will not be reduced, but for this crime prevention has proven to be a much more effective tool. Please visit our program website and remember to "Take your valuables with you."

Related Documents:

City Ordinance for Receipt Re-Oreder (with Message Added)

Administrative Rule Changes to Allow Sponsorship

Map of Downtown Paystations

Community Partners:

State Farm

Media Mention:

Car Prowl Reminders Planned for Downtown

Our Blog & Project Website:

Carprowl Prevention Program

Crimes of Opportunity

www.portlandonline.com/parksafe