News 
 Local News 
 News 
 Business 
 More brazen acts by graffiti vandals 

More brazen acts by graffiti vandals

5/08/2008 4:00:00 AM
CLEANING the graffiti from the exterior of his Kirrawee shop is an apparent waste of time for Sutherland Shire businessman Paul Bell, because he knows it is only a matter of time before the vandals strike again.

Vandals attacked his Bath Road business on July 19 for the third time this year.

They covered a truck parked on the street with large graffiti "tags'' and climbed onto the roof of his store to leave another "tag'' on an exterior wall.

Mr Bell said the vandals had gone too far this time.

"We couldn't believe our eyes when we saw the truck,'' Mr Bell said.

He said other businesses on Bath Road were facing the same problem.

Nearly every shop in the street is covered in graffiti of some description, Mr Bell said.

"The whole street's been done. When you start looking for it, you notice it's everywhere.''

Mr Bell said the vandals had risked their lives by climbing on the roof. "The harder the position, the higher they can reach, the more kudos they get with their gang,'' he said.

He believes teenagers are behind the attack and will install security cameras and barbed wire to deter vandals.

"I think parents need to take responsibility and know where their children are at all times,'' he said. "I think the kids that do this should be made to go around the shire and clean up the mess.''

Are we losing the battle against graffiti?

Print
Increase Text Size
Decrease Text Size

RELATED COVERAGE

comments


Date: Newest first | Oldest first
A harder stand needs to be taken against this type of vandalism. A zero tolerance approach should be taken. If the offender is a minor, the parents should have to pay for the cost of repairing the damage. If the offender is an adult, they will have to clean the mess up and pay for the damage out of their own pockets and if they have no income, become an indentured worker for the business until the cost of repairs are worked off. It is of course another matter to catch them in the act but I think the council could institute “graffiti patrols” to drive around and monitor affected sites. It is a cost, but the shire will start to resemble a slum if nothing is done to tackle the problem.
Posted by Darrin Hodges on 5/08/2008 8:26:36 AM
The children's playground next door to Grandviews bowling club in Peakhurst has been grafittied this past week.
Posted by Chris on 5/08/2008 12:07:55 PM
You know what? People say the media shouldn't publish tags because it gives the vandals a sense of pride. I say screw it - let's do a massive coverage of grafitti right throughout St George / Sutherland Shire - give it so much bloody coverage that the vandals are shamed and start shaking in their boots that they'll get caught. Let's put up rewards of a couple hundred dollars for information leading to conviction. People must know or suspect who's responsible.
Posted by Chris on 5/08/2008 12:09:45 PM
Can't believe how bad this problem has become over the last 10 years. Trouble is offenders need to be caught in the act to be charged. Maybe cops need comprehensive stop & search powers,then change the law so that anyone carrying pens or spray cans during certain times (night) is committing a chargable offence. Tough I know but I'm sick of seeing this blatant vandalism on absolutely everything in the community. Make rewards leading to convictions $2000 for all I care. The offenders can then pay for it via $5000 fines or do weekend detention. Still cheaper than doing nothing & cleaning the mess ourselves.
Posted by Paul on 6/08/2008 12:34:40 PM
Paul wrote: "Make rewards leading to convictions $2000 for all I care. The offenders can then pay for it via $5000 fines or do weekend detention. Still cheaper than doing nothing & cleaning the mess ourselves." I like it!
Posted by Chris on 12/08/2008 4:30:51 PM
eshay.
Posted by a on 19/08/2008 12:24:50 PM

post a comment


Screen name  *
Email address  *
Remember me?
Comment  *
We invite and encourage our readers to post comments. Comments are moderated and will appear as soon as our editor has approved them. When posting comments you agree to be bound by our Terms and Conditions.
Angry: Paul Bell of Able Hire Kirrawee says he is sick and tired of vandals defacing his shop. You see a lot of the same [graffiti] tags across the shire,'' Mr Bell said.
Angry: Paul Bell of Able Hire Kirrawee says he is sick and tired of vandals defacing his shop. "You see a lot of the same [graffiti] tags across the shire,'' Mr Bell said.

RELATED ARTICLES

MOST POPULAR

03 Jul 09 | I believe every child that enters this world should do so carrying a Filofax or laptop.
 SEND...
 SAVE...
 SHARE...