Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition The Quarterly Newsletter of Southern Nevada s Official Graffiti Fighting Alliance Summer 2012 Southern Nevada United Against Graffiti Vandalism Southern Nevada United Against Graffiti Vandalism 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 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! THANK YOU Sonitrol Electronic Security and Anderson Dairy for your support!
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 responsible 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 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. 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. 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.
Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition, Summer 2012 Page 6 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 The Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition is on: Southern Nevada Graffiti Coalition Det. Scott Black (LVMPD), Director