Southern Nevada United Against Graffiti Vandalism

Southern Nevada United Against Graffiti Vandalism

Southern Nevada Southern Nevada

Graffiti Coalition Graffiti Coalition The Quarterly Newsletter of Southern The Quarterly Newsletter of Southern

Nevada’s Official Graffiti Fighting AllianceNevada’s Official Graffiti Fighting Alliance Summer 2012Summer 2012

GRAFFITI FREE LAS VEGAS Kicks Off Students, teachers, local officials, police officers, citizens and local media

representatives gathered at Roy Martin Middle School to kick off the Graffiti Free Las

Vegas initiative. The event marked the beginning of an intensive program of

enforcement, abatement and prevention in an effort to reduce our communities most

costly property crime: graffiti vandalism.

The students in attendance were given presentations on the detriments of graffiti

involvement by LVMPD officers and many were interviewed by local media outlets.

Students were then asked to pledge that they would not become involved in graffiti.

They then signed a large pledge banner which was presented to the school

administration. The students were also treated to a barbecue which was provided by

the city of Las Vegas, the Nevada Youth Alliance, Sonitrol Electronic Security and

Anderson Dairy.

The Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition partners want to thank the city of Las Vegas,

Clark County, the Clark County School District, the LVMPD Youth Education Section

(DARE), Metro’s Downtown Area Command, Crime Stoppers of Nevada, Sonitrol

Electronic Security, Anderson Dairy and everyone else involved for making this a

memorable event.

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, Summer 2012 Page 2

GRAFFITI FREE LAS VEGAS GRAFFITI FREE LAS VEGAS

THANK YOU Sonitrol Electronic Security

and Anderson Dairy for your support! Our Great Appreciation goes to City of

Las Vegas Senior Neighborhood

Planner Lisa Campbell and LVMPD

Gang Prevention Coordinator Deborah

Reyes. Thanks for the Hard Work!

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, Summer 2012 Page 3

GRAFFITI GUIDE

To Report a Graffiti Vandal in Progress:

Call 911. Do not approach the vandal.

Be a good witness for responding officers.

Assist the officers with information if/when requested once the vandal is in custody.

To Request Graffiti Removal on Public Property:

Call the Southern Nevada Graffiti Hotline at 455-4509.

For Graffiti Removal on Non-Public Property:

For graffiti on utility boxes you can contact the company which owns the box.

For your safety do not attempt to remove graffiti from these boxes yourself.

Graffiti removal on private property is the responsibility of the property owner.

If an arrest is made the owner may receive full restitution as ordered by the court.

If the graffiti is on property managed by a home owner's association the HOA is respon-

sible for removal of the graffiti. The HOA must also make the police report.

To Receive Free Graffiti Removal Supplies for your Neighborhood:

Contact the county or city where you reside. Often these supplies can be provided if you

and your neighbors are able and willing to remove graffiti in your neighborhood.

To Have a Police Report made:

Stop by your nearest police station.

You must own the property to complete a police report.

When a report is made a detective will be assigned the case for investigation.

To Report a Known Graffiti Vandal:

Contact your local police department.

To remain anonymous you can call or submit a tip online

to CRIME STOPPERS at (702) 385-5555 or

www.crimestoppersofnv.com.

Tips leading to a felony arrest or an indictment processed

through Crime Stoppers may result in a cash award.

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, Summer 2012 Page 4

Los Angeles Installs Graffiti-Proof Murals

In an effort to promote art and culture three new

graffiti-proof murals have been installed along

the 101 freeway in Los Angeles Ca.

Previous murals placed along L.A. freeways have

been aggressively attacked by graffiti vandals. As

a result of these incidents new murals have been

constructed of paint resistant canvas which will

resist the efforts of graffiti vandals who attempt

to deface the murals.

Changes Coming to Nevada’s Graffiti LawChanges Coming to Nevada’s Graffiti Law

In response to an increase in graffiti directed at historical locations, the state of Nevada is looking at

making changes to the current graffiti law. Currently it is a felony to place graffiti to certain historic

locations regardless of the amount of actual property damage caused. The proposed changes will

broaden this to include any location or landmark which is a registered historic landmark either

federally or by the state of Nevada.

If passed this new provision will extend protection to numerous landmarks located in Southern

Nevada such as the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Nevada” sign located at the south end of The

Strip. Locations such as this have been targeted by graffiti vandals in the past because of the high

profile nature of the location and the attention it gets the vandal.

The State of Nevada

has some of the

Toughest Graffiti

Laws in America.

These laws are

continually being

changed to

effectively fight the

changing nature of

graffiti vandalism.

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, Summer 2012 Page 5

Man Charged with Tagging of Original Picasso

Houston Texas police have charged a graffiti

vandal caught on video tagging an original 1929

Picasso art piece, “Woman in a Red Armchair.”

The art piece is valued at several million dollars.

A video of the act was caught by a bystander who

used his cell phone camera. It shows the vandal

defacing the Picasso using spray paint and a

stencil.

22 year old Uriel Landeros has been charged with

felony graffiti and criminal mischief after

Houston Crimes Stoppers received a tip on the

case. While he has been charged, his current

whereabouts are unknown and a $5,000 reward

is being offered to anyone providing officers with

information leading to his arrest.

Landeros approached the Picasso and placed a

premade stencil and spray painted a picture of a

bull and the word “conquista.” He stated that he

defaced the art piece “to honor it.” The art piece

has been repaired and is once again on display to

the public in Houston.

Did You Know?

Many famous pieces

of artwork have

been vandalized. In

1956 the Mona Lisa

was vandalized by a

woman who doused

part of the painting

with acid. Many

famous art pieces

are now protected

with bullet-proof

glass.

Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, Summer 2012 Page 6

Southern Nevada Graffiti CoalitionSouthern Nevada Graffiti Coalition

Det. Scott Black (LVMPD), DirectorDet. Scott Black (LVMPD), Director

The Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition is on:The Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition is on:

DID YOU KNOW? The most costly type of graffiti is etching. Graffiti vandals want to destroy property in the most costly and

offensive way possible. Since spray paint and other types of markings are reasonably easy to remove, many

vandals have resorted to etching as a means of maximizing the damage they inflict and making their damage

more permanent.

Graffiti etchings are most commonly applied to clear class windows and mirrors. However graffiti etching can

be placed to any item that has a surface that can be scratched into. The methods that vandals use to place

graffiti etchings includes scribes, keys or other sharps item, or various types of acid.

Several types of commercially available protective films have shown great promise in the fight our local

businesses are waging against this type of graffiti vandalism.

Graffiti Etching at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas