Graffiti Prevention Tips for Homeowners
Graffiti can be anything from words, symbols or drawings etched, written or spray painted on public property such as sidewalks, street signs, buildings, trains, buses, walls or canvases. Although graffiti is sometimes considered a form of art, it is vandalism which is punishable by fines and even jail time.
Graffiti sends the signal that nobody cares, attracting other forms of crime and street delinquency to a neighborhood. The U.S. Department of Justice reports “graffiti contributes to lost revenue associated with reduced rider ship on transit systems, reduced retail sales and declines in property value.” The appearance of graffiti heightens resident fear and is often perceived as a sign that a downward spiral has begun, even though this may not be true.
How can a homeowner prevent graffiti? Keep up appearances. Make every effort to keep the appearance of your residence neat and clean. An exterior appearance that suggests apathy and neglect attracts vandals. Litter, broken fences, overgrown landscaping, and poor lighting all send a message to vandals that property owners are not attentive or do not care.
Remove graffiti quickly. Rapid and continual removal of graffiti is the best way for homeowners to protect their property and preserve the image of their neighborhood. Studies show that removal within 24 to 48 hours results in a nearly zero rate of reoccurrence. Also, work with your city, township or county to ensure that graffiti is removed rapidly from public areas near or around your residence.
Build in prevention. Incorporate shrubs, thorny plants, and vines to restrict vandal access to residence walls, fences, sheds, garages, and other graffiti targets. Add or improve lighting around your property to promote natural surveillance. If you belong to a neighborhood association, ask your community to install lighting in areas that are dark and often hit with graffiti.
Work with neighbors and law enforcement. Organize a Neighborhood Watch to help law enforcement keep tabs on criminal activity in your neighborhood. Adopt-a-spot in your neighborhood and keep it graffiti free. Hold a neighborhood meeting on graffiti prevention and invite law enforcement.
What should a homeowner do if their property is hit with graffiti? Report it to your local law enforcement. The agency will complete an incident report on the graffiti complaints. Document it if you remove graffiti before calling the police. Take a picture of the graffiti before removal. Photographs will assist law enforcement in their investigation. Remove graffiti promptly and completely.
