Jersey City Heights slasher is caught on video -- do you recognize him? Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 3:20 PM By Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal Video obtained from the Jersey City Police Department of the suspected tire slasher on Bowers Street in the Heights section of Jersey City. Jersey City police released a video clip today showing the man believed to have slashed 22 tires in a Heights neighborhood Tuesday and investigators are seeking the public's help identifying him. In the short video, the neatly dressed man is seen walking past a parked car carrying what looks like a messenger's bag or satchel. Almost without stopping he bends and appears to stab at the car's rear right wheel. The vandalism is thought to have occurred early Tuesday morning on three parallel streets, damaging 18 vehicles on Bowers Street, and two each on Griffith and Lincoln streets. Anyone with information on the identify of the man is asked to call the Jersey City police tip line at (201) 547-JAIL.

View Larger Map Total of vandalized cars in Jersey City Heights neighborhood up to 22, cops say Tuesday, October 11, 2011, 2:56 PM By John Heinis/The Jersey Journal Carl Monroe changes the flat tire on Charlotte Polizzo's Mini Cooper which was slashed while parked on Bowers Street in Jersey City on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011. Vandals slash tires on several cars in The Heights in Jersey City gallery (9 photos) Tires on 22 cars on adjacent streets in the Jersey City Heights were slashed early Tuesday morning, police said. The cars that were vandalized were on Bowers (18), Griffith (2) and Lincoln (2) streets. Some residents in the area said that this sort of thing can happen no matter where you live. "Crime to this extreme happens every once in a while...it happens," said Charlotte Polizzo, whose black Mini Cooper suffered a slashed tire. "Recently, I'd say the crime is increasing," Polizzo said, noting the recent murder of Randy "Amanda" Lehrer, on nearby Charles Street. Polizzo, who has lived on Bowers Street for about three years, said she has "absolutely" considered moving, but she doesn't want to make her daughter switch high schools. A resident who wished to remain anonymous told The Jersey Journal that around "four or five cars" had their tires slashed about a year ago, so he's not surprised by today's incident. "In the past 10 years, do you know how many cars I've owned?" the Bowers Street resident asked. "Cars have gotten keyed, hit with eggs ... in life, there's bigger things going on. Tires being slashed doesn't mean anything in the big picture of life. "This is the same thing as kids throwing eggs and toilet paper at the houses of the teacher they don't like; this is just taking it one step higher." Oscar Garcia, who has lived on Bowers Street for five years, said he can't recall any vandalism or crime in the area. Two of the four tires on his red Chevrolet Venture were slashed. Some of the other vehicles damaged include a Honda Civic, Toyota Tacoma and Corolla and a Nissan Maxima. Jersey City police believe that the incident this morning could be a copycat crime. Over a 10-day period, 12 vehicles in a single neighborhood had their tires slashed.