Press Release: June 16, 2010 1:50 PM, Hesperia, CA - Article by Beatriz Valenzuela, Daily Press. Posted by Dan Mayfield.
Taggers cost Hesperia $200,000
HESPERIA, CA • Tagging crews and vandals cost the city of Hesperia nearly $200,000 each year in clean up costs, according to city officials.
The introduction of an ordinance that makes taggers or their parents financially liable for the vandalism caused to city property has led to a slight decrease in the crime. But Kelly Malloy, spokeswoman for the city, said officials are looking into ways to amend the ordinance to allow code enforcement officials to go after the vandals more aggressively.
“It’s still in the early stages, but it’s a project the city is definitely looking into,” Malloy said.
Recently San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Hesperia station deputies were able to put two teen taggers behind bars for $4,000 in vandalism. And a warrant search yielded drugs and paraphernalia at one of the taggers’ homes, Roxanne Walker, spokeswoman for the station, said.
What Parents Should Look For:
Source: Roxanne Walker, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Hesperia station
• Does your teen come home with paint on their hands, or do they have boxes of latex or rubber gloves?
• Taggers tend to carry their “tools” in backpacks. Check them for spray paint cans, sketch pads with graffiti-style sketches and gloves.
• Watch for teens who go out late in dark clothing, especially hoodies, always carrying a back pack.
• Check their rooms for tagging or graffiti-style writing on their walls, school books or other belongings.
• See if there is a pattern to what is scrawled on their books or personal items, such as the same letters or group of letters.
Contact the WeTip Hotline at 1 (800) 78-CRIME.
Informants May be Eligible for a Reward
All Tips are Completely Anonymous
Anyone with information illegal tagging, vandalism, or graffiti, is asked to contact the WeTip Anonymous Hotline at (800) 78-CRIME or 1-800-782-7463. It is also possible to submit an anonymous tip online at www.wetip.com. Informants may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this matter.
When anyone knows of a crime past, present or future, they may call the toll free anonymous WeTip Hotlines (800) 78-CRIME, (800) 47-ARSON, (800) 47-DRUGS and (800) USFRAUD. These lines are staffed by trained, bi-lingual operators and are available to anyone in the United States.
WeTip has aided law enforcement with 492,139 tips, 15,540 arrests, 8,045 convictions, and over $330 million worth of illegal drugs and narcotics have been seized. There has been nearly $24 million worth of stolen property and cash recovered in these cases. WeTip has paid $986,165 in rewards to anonymous callers in the 36 years they have been working 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to turn peoples anger into action. WeTip works closely with law enforcement, fire departments, school and insurance officials throughout the nation to make our communities and schools safer for everyone.