Provo graffiti cases rising steadily

PROVO — The number of graffiti cases reported has steadily risen in recent years, a police officer said Tuesday night.

Sgt. Devon Jensen of Provo Police Department told City Council members that 1,045 instances of graffiti were reported to police during 2007. In 2006, the number of instances was significantly less at 433; and, in 2005, only 229 cases were reported.

In his presentation, at in the municipal meeting room at 351 W. Center Street, Jensen said there are several reasons for the graffiti spike.

"This has gone up drastically each year due to both increase in graffiti and also public awareness and reporting," he said.

Provo Spokeswoman Helen Anderson said she is not surprised the rate of graffiti reports jumped dramatically last year, because that is when the city launched its graffiti hotline number, 85-CRIME, as well as www.graffiti.provo.org, a Web site that allows people to report.

According to reports obtained from Provo police department, 963

cases of graffiti have been reported to law enforcement by people who were using the hotline. January was the month that had the highest instances of graffiti.

Graffiti costs the city a considerable sum of money, Jensen said. Clean-up efforts cost the city $23,488 in 2007, and an additional $15,244 in 2006. To illustrate, Jensen said a three-foot-square piece of graffiti costs $50 to be cleaned or painted over.

Nationwide, graffiti artists cost the nation between $10 billion and $12 billion, he said.

Typically, there are two groups prone to graffiti: taggers and gang members. Taggers work in groups and often feel their work is artistic or political, Jensen said. Gangs tag to mark their territory. Jensen showed photos to the City Council to indicate both types of graffiti "artists" are alive and well in Provo.

Jensen said individuals need to take responsibility and report graffiti wherever ever they see it. He said the police department was able to arrest five people because an 11-year-old boy spotted them and made a call to police.

Midge Johnson said the presentation was an eye-opener. She's seen graffiti in her neighborhood, and she's impressed an 11-year-old boy took initiative to report what he saw.

"I hope people will be our eyes and ears," she said.

Mayor Lewis Billings said he's pleased with the intensity police show in going after graffiti creators and other gang-related activities. He also hoped more people will start taking responsibility for the appearance of their neighborhoods.

"When people lend a hand, the task becomes less difficult for everyone," he said.

Parents should be held accountable too as a deterrent, Billings said.

"When they see a spray can in their child's bedroom, they have an obligation not to ignore that," he said.

Contrary to some youth's beliefs, graffiti is in fact a serious offense, Billings said.

"We don't accept that in any form," he said.

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