How to Combat Graffiti
by Lindsey Lee

Graffiti is more than visual blight, it is a danger to neighborhoods. Criminal street gangs communicate with rival gangs, threaten violence, mark territory, and advertise for recruits through the use of graffiti. Quick removal of graffiti often deters future vandalism.

If you witness graffiti vandalism occurring:

• You should contact the police immediately (911) and report a "crime in progress."
  
  
• You should not attempt to stop the crime in progress; it is a serious crime and criminal vandals can be dangerous.
  
  
• Crimestoppers pays rewards for information on graffiti vandals (713) 222-TIPS.

When you discover graffiti vandalism that has already occurred:

• If the graffiti is on someone else's property, report the address to Neighborhood Protection at (713) 525-2525.
  
  
• If the graffiti is on your property, you should report the vandalism by calling HPD Dispatch at (713) 222-3131 and request that an offense report be made.
  
  
• If you need assistance in painting out graffiti, call the Mayor's Anti-Gang Office at (713) 247-1576. Failure to remove graffiti from your property can result in penalty.
  
  
• To paint out the graffiti yourself, use free recycled paint from the City of Houston Paint Bank at 319 St. Emanuel and 13211 Old Westheimer. All you need is proof of vandalism, consisting of a city notice (sent by Neighborhood Protection), the front page of a police report or an authorization from the Mayor's Anti-Gang Office. Police reports can be obtained for a cost of $2.00 at the HPD Headquarters at 1200 Travis 24 hours a day and authorizations from the Mayor's Anti-Gang Office are available by calling 247-1576.