Graffiti Prevention Tips for Businesses
How can my business prevent graffiti?
1. Ongoing upkeep
Make every effort to keep the appearance of a facility clean and neat. An exterior appearance that suggests apathy and neglect attracts vandals. Littered parking lots, old graffiti, broken fences, overgrown landscaping, and poor lighting all send a message to vandals that business owners are not attentive or do not care about their business.
2. Rapid removal
Rapid and continual removal of graffiti is the best way for businesses and commercial property owners to protect the image of their street and preserve customers’ sense of security. Studies show that removal within 24 to 48 hours results in a nearly zero rate of reoccurrence. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY to come and photograph the graffiti first. Police cannot prosecute offenders if they have no evidence of their crimes.
Sometimes, a professional is needed...
3. Control access
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Incorporate shrubs, thorny plants, and vines to limit paintable surfaces or easy access to walls or fences. Climbing vines or plants are great graffiti deterrents.§
Add or improve lighting around the building to promote natural surveillance. Motion control sensitive lighting is a low-cost idea. These lights can be bought at any hardware store for a minimal investment.§
Use fences, controlled entrances and exits or other barriers that discourage through traffic. Textured fencing or uneven wall surfaces are hard to paint and taggers often avoid these types of walls or fencing.§
Limit access to roofs by moving dumpsters away from walls and covering drainpipes to prevent vandals from scaling them. Cover and padlock roof access ladders.4. Step up security
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Install some type of security camera. Affordable video monitoring systems are easy to find at hardware or retail stores and are easy to install. Motion activated "deer cameras" used by hunters are also an easy way to photograph offenders and their cars. For a larger investment, you can visit Q-Star technologies and install their graffiti cameras.§
Organize a “Business Watch” with nearby merchants to keep tabs on a business area. Businesses may want to employ security personnel to monitor property.§
Don’t allow a “legal wall”, or an area that permits graffiti, at your business. Numerous cities around the U.S. have proven this theory to be completely ineffective in reducing graffiti and may draw even more graffiti vandals to the area.§
Employ graffiti resistant materials or coatings on a chronically hit wall. These supplies are available at hardware or paint supply stores as well as online.5. Work with your community
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Commission a community mural on a chronically hit wall. Most taggers respect traditional murals and consider them "off limits." PLEASE DO NOT use taggers or "graffiti artists" to create a graffiti mural. This may give the impression you condone graffiti itself and does not guarantee that style of mural will be left alone by other taggers.§
Print anti-graffiti messages on bags, sales flyers, calendars, and other promotional items.§
Work with other merchants to organize and contribute to a “paint bank.” Paints, rollers, brushes, and other equipment from the bank are “borrowed” as needed. Ensure safe and environmentally appropriate storage of paint and supplies.§
Refrain from using graffiti images in ads or promoting graffiti in any way.** JOIN MAGTF, and get access to the G.R.I.P. database already in use by law enforcement agencies around the world! **
How might a “graffiti ordinance” affect my business?
Local graffiti ordinances vary, but usually dictate how quickly
graffiti must be removed and who is responsible for removal. In most cases, private businesses
are responsible for removing graffiti on their property.
In some communities, the city will remove the graffiti, but charge the business
owner a fee. Other cities clean up graffiti on private property at no charge to the owner.
Also, graffiti removal by someone other than the business owner usually requires permission from the owner/agent. Find out how graffiti removal on private property is handled in your community. Get a copy of any local graffiti ordinance.
Graffiti removal companies can be found in your local phone book.
What should a business do if it’s hit with graffiti?
1. Report It.
Contact the police to report graffiti vandalism using a non-emergency number. Some cities have an 800 number or a website for reporting graffiti. MAGTF uses the G.R.I.P. graffiti tracking database, and it is FREE to use. Make sure Police complete an incident report and photograph the damage for later use in court. Photos are often the best and most valuable evidence once a suspect is identified.
2. Identify It.
Work with local authorities to determine if the graffiti is being done by taggers or gangs. You can also contact MAGTF for assistance at (303) 335-0946 or info@magtfdenver.org. Always check with law enforcement about safety concerns when removing gang graffiti.
3. Document It.
Take your own picture of the graffiti before it is removed. Upload your photos to the G.R.I.P. graffiti tracking database, it is FREE and easy to use. MAGTF will use your pictures to track offenders around the Denver area, and possibly into other states or countries (it has happened before!).
Photographs are probably required by your insurance company. Police photographs are hard to get copies of in order to send to your insurance agent, so your own copies are another benefit.
4. Remove It.
Remove graffiti promptly and completely.
How should graffiti be removed?
To select the appropriate method for graffiti removal, consider the surface, access, costs, and any local restrictions. Municipal governments often have removal and restoration guidelines for graffiti cleanup.
Removal methods may include:
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Paint out – on painted surfaces, painting over graffiti is a low-cost removal method. Be sure to color match the paint to the surface. A patchwork of paint or a large block of different color paint is an ideal canvas and will invite more graffiti.§
Chemical removal – this method employs some type of solvent to remove graffiti. Visit BK Enterprises for chemical products that MAGTF recommends.§
Power washing – this removes graffiti by applying water, usually hot, under pressure. Power washing may also be used after applying a paint solvent to the graffiti area. An abrasive, such as baking soda or fine sand, may also be added to the water to remove a thin layer of the surface and the graffiti.Consider pooling resources with
other merchants and contract with a company that
specializes in graffiti removal. This will encourage quick and appropriate
removal.
The following businesses provide graffiti removal services* :
* This list was taken from a Denver metro area telephone directory and is provided as a convenience. It does not imply endorsement of any of the companies listed.
For more information or a consultation, contact
MAGTF at :
(303) 335-0946
or
info@magtfdenver.org
MAGTF Denver recommends SIGNAL 88 SECURITY as an affordable, professional way of supplementing your property's security and monitoring needs. SIGNAL 88 works closely with law enforcment and the Metro Area Graffiti Task Force to help improve the quality of life in our communities, HOA's and business districts. Please contact one the Denver regional representatives below for more information.
Ed Howarth, President
Signal 88 of Security Denver
(303) 350-6081
ehowarth@signal88.com
Dan Brown, President
Signal 88 of Security Englewood
(720) 238-5047
dbrown@signal88.com
Darik Tolnay, Director of Sales
Signal 88 of Security Aurora
dtolnay@signal88.com