Graffiti Is Destructive — And Illegal, Police Say

By Newark Police

How colorful. How creative. How interesting. How about destructive.

We see it throughout our country, no matter where we travel, where we visit; the signs of graffiti seem to have infiltrated every walk of life.

From a rail car, to the side of a building, to school yards and some of the most unimaginable places, we find graffiti.

Regardless of the “quality” and yes, some can be very creative; graffiti is a significant drain on public resources. The process to remove these drawings or "tags” can be very time consuming to remove, requiring expensive materials and effort that could be spent elsewhere.

The inherent problem is that one act of graffiti encourages many acts of graffiti.

Whether it is a territorial issue or just simply one’s ego driving them to outdo others, it is rare that other graffiti marks or “tags" don't begin showing up around or even on top of the first incident.

This compounds the problem, increases the overall unattractiveness of the area and makes removal much more difficult. Taking time to promptly remove graffiti from your property will reduce the chances of others applying their marks, “tags” or drawings.

QUICK TIPS ON RESPONDING TO GRAFFITI

• If you notice graffiti on your property, paint it over as soon as possible. This lets these “artists” know that your property is not an acceptable place for their “work.”
• If you see active graffiti taking place, contact the police! It is a crime and important for us to catch these taggers.

To learn more about crime prevention or become involved our Graffiti Abatement Volunteer programs please contact: Tim Jones, special assistant to the Community Engagement Division of the Newark Police Department at 510-578-4209 or tim.jones@newark.org.