A large group of people are suspected of vandalizing five businesses in Southeast Portland Thursday evening.

Just before 9 p.m., officers responded to calls of about 40 people gathering outside Umpqua Bank, 3557 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., and someone breaking a window. Soon after, similar damage was reported at Wells Fargo Bank, 3782 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., said Sgt. Pete Simpson, a Police Bureau spokesman.

Another call reported that group members broke a window at Chase Bank, 3902 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd. By then, the group had grown to 50 to 75 people, said Simpson, some were reported to have thrown bottles at pedestrians and walked into the street, blocking traffic.



More broken windows were reported at U.S. Bank, 1225 S.E. Cesar Chavez Blvd., and Walgreens store, 940 S.E. Cesar Chavez Blvd. No workers or customers at the store were reported hurt.



Simpson said the crowd then headed to Southeast Belmont Street, where they scattered in several directions. Officers did detain several people briefly, but no arrests have been announced.



Police planned to seek surveillance videos from businesses in the affected areas. They asked anyone with information to contact crimetips@portlandoregon.gov.

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