UPDATE (June 9, 2008): As the tagger from the video referenced below has been identified, we’ve removed it from YouTube and the blog.
Click on the video below to watch a short clip showing a tagger in Kerrisdale last week. We’ve burned a few DVD’s (in much higher quality than this compressed clip) of the full video that shows the tagger as well as his friend that has been sent to a few of the neighbourhood schools (as well as the Police). In the interest of trying to speed up the process of identifying him, we’ve also posted the video on YouTube.
The photo below shows the tag that he left behind. If you (or your kids) recognize either the tagger or the tag, please get in touch with us at 604.664.1087 or by email.
Although graffiti and senseless vandalism like this are prevalent throughout Vancouver… the Westside gets hit particularly badly. At a KBA meeting last year, Dave Struthers, from CBS/JC Decaux (who supply and maintain all the city’s bus shelters, benches, toilets and other street furniture) acknowledged that the Westside is by far the worst area of the city and that more is spent on repairs to street furniture due to vandalism here than anywhere else in the city. That’s pretty sad.
Back in 2000, when graffiti was at its worst in Kerrisdale, Provident developed a database to help track the incidents of graffiti in the neighbourhood for the Kerrisdale Business Association… that way, once we eventually caught a tagger in the act, we could compare their tag to others in the database. The clip below is from a 2001 CTV newstory that talks about the program… (the technology that we use, although pretty cutting edge back in 2001, has improved a lot since this newsclip).
What should you do if you find graffiti on your property?
If you live on the Westside of Vancouver…
- Take a photo of each individual tag (make sure that you record the time and date);
- Remove/paint-over the tag as soon as possible;
- If you live/work on the Westside, send us a copy of your photos and we will add it to our database;
- Report the incident to the VPD (so that it will be added to their crime statistics)
If you live anywhere else…
- Take a photo of each individual tag (make sure that you record the time and date);
- Remove/paint-over the tag as soon as possible;
- Report the incident to your local police department’s non-emergency line/online reporting service