The Alaska Aviation Safety Foundation is raising reward money in hopes of catching a vandal or vandals who slashed the tires of 87 airplanes at Anchorage’s Merrill Field airport.

The crime was discovered June 2. Police say one or more people entered the popular airport, on the edge of Downtown, between 1 and 5 a.m. that morning and caused more than $200,000 worth of damage.

As the investigation continues, the nonprofit safety foundation

in hopes of raising thousands of dollars for a potential reward for tips that lead to an arrest.

“What type of low-life person would do something like this?” the foundation wrote in the description for the fund, which aims to raise some $10,000. “This is not just mischief this is a felony. We all know the cost of aircraft tires and having to replace them for anything other than wear and tear is criminally outrageous.”

As of this morning, more than $1,300 had been collected. While collection reward money for a criminal investigation is “not generally part of our core mission,” the nonprofit writes, “this could easily spill over into sabotage of aircraft and subsequent aircraft non-worthiness and worse.”

The Anchorage Police Department says Crime Stoppers would also pay for $1,000 for information that prompts an arrest in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 561-STOP or

. Police say tips must be received by Crime Stoppers to be eligible for the rewards. Tipsters will remain anonymous.