Common Questions
Find answers and resources for some of the most common questions asked of Crime Prevention:
Drug Activity
What can I do if I suspect a drug house on my street or in my neighborhood?
Your Crime Prevention Program Coordinator or your Neighborhood Response Team Officer can help you determine if you are seeing activity that indicates drug dealing or some other type of issue. If the activity indicates drugs, then you, your neighbors, your Crime Prevention Program Coordinator, and the Police can work together to solve the problem.
Find your Crime Prevention Coordinator
Read a handout called "Recognizing and Responding to Illegal Drug Activity"
What can I do if I see drug dealing in public?
Call 9-1-1 for crimes in progress. If an officer is available, they may be able to arrive in time to intervene.
What if this is a location where there is chronic, open-air drug activity?
If this is a location with chronic drug activity, contact your Crime Prevention Program Coordinator(CPPC). They will help you determine the best course of action, and can work in partnership with you, the Police, and other resources to work on the issue. CPPCs are trained problem solvers, and know many City and local resources that have proven effective in dealing with chronic drug issues.
Are there things I can do to help prevent drug activity from happening in my neighborhood?
Yes. When neighbors know one another and look out for each other, this creates an environment that discourages drug or other criminal activity. Start a Neighborhood or Business Watch or Foot Patrol.
How To Get Involved: Community Foot Patrols, Neighborhood Watch,
Graffiti Reporting, Enhanced Safety Properties, Crime Prevention Services, etc.
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Problem Liquor Establishments
What can I do if there is a problem liquor establishment in my neighborhood?
Contact your Liquor Licensing Coordinator, 503-823-3092, who can explain your options. Options will vary, depending on the concerns.
Link to the Liquor License Program
Link to Time, Place, and Manner Ordinance
Link to On-Line Liquor Complaint Form
What can I do if there is graffiti on my property?
It’s important to remove graffiti right away AND to report it so the Graffiti program has a record of the incident. For more information about graffiti, removal, and prevention go to the Graffiti Abatement Program’s website.
Can I report graffiti that is on someone else’s property?
Yes. Report it through the Graffiti Hotline 503-823-5860 or online reporting form.
What can I do to prevent graffiti on my property?
Changing the landscaping, lighting, or appearance of a property, principles know as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), can reduce the likelihood of being a victim of graffiti or vandalism, as well as improve the general safety of the property. The forms below will show you what to look for to improve the general safety of your property.
Car Prowls
What’s the best way to keep people from breaking into my car?
Keep your vehicle “showroom” clean. This means don’t leave ANYTHING in your vehicle, especially something of value. Even visible spare change can entice a criminal to break into your car. If you must store items in your car, use your trunk. Also, park in a well lit area, roll up windows and lock your doors – every time you leave your vehicle.
Police Bureau’s Guide to Home and Vehicle Security
Gang and Youth Activity
What resources are available if I think there might be gang activity or questionable activity by young people in my neighborhood?
If there is a crime in progress or you feel threatened, call 9-1-1.
Contact the Office of Youth Violence Prevention, which focuses on attacking the root causes of problems in neighborhoods. The goal for youth violence prevention is to prevent opportunities for violence to occur by connecting community and service providers dealing with at-risk youth and their families with the following:
• Prevention education
• Policy and community organizing support
• Resource identification and funding
Link to the Office of Youth Violence Prevention webpage
Who do I contact if I want to organize my neighbors?
Contact your Crime Prevention Program Coordinator. You may consider starting a Neighborhood Watch or a Community Foot Patrol.
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Communication Between Neighbors
What’s the best way to approach my neighbor when there’s a problem?
Click here for tips on resolving neighbor conflict.
You can also contact Resolutions Northwest if you would like help approaching your neighbor and/or neighborhood mediation services.
Link to Resolutions Northwest's website.
Safety
What are ways to stay safe when walking down the street?
People described as being street smart typically do two things:
- they make an effort to recognize and avoid potentially dangerous situations when they can, and
- they leave dangerous situations they find themselves in before those situations escalate.
Their actions are based on the principles found on the following link: Safety Tips
These tips are provided by the WomenStrength Program, a personal safety training program of the Portland Police Bureau.
What are some ways to stay safe on public transportation?
- Sit near the driver.
- Alert the driver if there is something happening that makes you uncomfortable.
If someone is bothering you, move.
- You can get off the bus or MAX at a safe stop – one where there are lots of people.
- Consult the safety tips information above.
Shoplifting
How can I keep people from shoplifting in my store?
Link to Crime Prevention Strategies for Businesses
Rental Properties
What can I do if the person causing problems on my street is not the owner of that property?
You may want to start by having a conversation with the person/people who are bothering you. If so, refer to the section on Communicating Between Neighbors.
If direct communication with the person doesn't work or isn't feasible, find out who owns the property, and who manages the property. You can use this link to Portland Maps to determine who owns the property. Have a conversation with the owner/manager. They may be unaware of their renters' behavior or activities.
Talk with your Crime Prevention Program Coordiantor for more assistance with problem solving.
Is there a program that helps improve and/or maintains safety and livability in apartment complexes?
Yes. It is called the Enhanced Safety Properties (ESP) program, and is a partnership between the Crime Prevention Program and the Portland Police Bureau.
Link to the Enhanced Safety Properties website.
When should I call 9-1-1?
Call 9-1-1 when a crime is in progress or when someone’s safety is at risk.
Examples: Someone is breaking into your home, someone loses consciousness, there is a fire, etc.
When should I call non-emergency 503-823-3333?
Call non-emergency when you need to report a crime and immediate safety is not a concern.
Examples: You come home to find someone has burglarized your home and there is no immediate threat or danger, you need to make a police report, you need to talk with a police officer, etc.
Where do my calls go?
9-1-1 and Non-Emergency calls are answered by the Bureau of Emergency Communications. This is a separate Bureau from Police or Fire.
Link to the Bureau of Emergency Communication's website.
How do I provide a tip to police about a crime?
Report ANY tip about a crime to the Portland Police Bureau’s Crime Stoppers tip line at:
Phone: (503) 823-HELP (4357)
Text Msg: 823 plus your tip and send it to CRIMES (274697)
Online: www.crimestoppersoforegon.com
If your tip is about a featured Crime Stoppers case, or any unsolved felony, there could be a cash rewards of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest. You can remain anonymous when providing your tip.
Crime Stoppers is a non-profit community organization aimed at helping local law enforcement agencies reduce violent crime including armed robbery, assault, rape, murder and all other felony crimes. Crime Stoppers operates several programs including include Campus Crime Stoppers, Crimes Against Animals and Graffiti Crimes, in an effort to make our communities safe through citizen action and anonymous tips.
Portland Police Bureau Frequently Asked Questions Page
Visit the Portland Police Bureau's Frequently Asked Questions page for information on the following:
- Non Emergency Reporting
- Crime Tips
- Victim Resources
- Public Records Access
- Traffic Laws and Vehicle/Bike Issues
- Vehicle Towing
- Neighborhood Livability Concerns
- Portland Police News
- Fraud Complaints
- City Ordinances and Oregon Laws
- Police Bureau Publications
- City/County Service
Link to the Police Bureau's FAQ page
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