About 25 cars had their tires slashed on Cairn and Graham streets in Dartmouth. (CBC)

Residents in a Dartmouth neighbourhood are hoping camera surveillance will stop vandalism in the area after tires on 25 cars were slashed.

The vandalism happened on Cairn and Graham streets last week, said Coun. Jim Smith.

He said it's often difficult to catch the culprits but police are investigating the latest incidents.

"I know we did some undercover work last time and there are some cameras around that they're still checking on," Smith told CBC News.

"There are some cameras across the road on Boland and there are some cameras down on Wyse Road that we're trying to check those out to see if we can see anyone in the act of slashing tires."

Smith said the neighbourhood, which is a travelling route between north-end Dartmouth and downtown, is usually a quiet one.

Several homeowners in the area told CBC News they were reluctant to be interviewed because they believe their homes will be targets for more vandalism.

The fences around nearby Northbrook Park regularly have holes cut into them. (CBC)

Smith said there are options for residents other than city-owned surveillance cameras.

"There's a lot of cases where private individuals will set cameras up on their houses and the police will take that as evidence," he said.

"You have to catch them in the act. Just one antisocial criminal can do a lot of damage in a community."

Residents believe the vandals are using nearby Northbrook Park as a getaway route, even though the gates to the park are locked at night.

The park's fences — which regularly have holes cut into them — have recently been repaired.