Prevention about Vandalism

The intentional destruction of property is popularly referred to as vandalism. It includes behavior such as breaking windows, slashing tires, spray painting a wall with graffiti, and destroying a computer system through the use of a computer virus. Vandalism is a malicious act and may reflect personal ill will, although the perpetrators need not know their victim to commit vandalism. The recklessness of the act imputes both intent and malice.

Read more: Vandalism http://law.jrank.org/pages/11065/Vandalism.html#ixzz0YPPPGuXb


Who Vandalizes and Why?

Some vandals work in groups. You may even know some of the teens doing the damage—there’s no one “type” of teen who vandalizes. He or she might be the smartest kid in school, or the kid who’s always in trouble. Most vandals are young people—from grade schoolers to teens to young adults—who vandalize out of:
-boredom
-anger
-revenge
-defiance
-association with friends.

Read more at: http://www.troopers.state.ny.us/Crime_Prevention/Juvenile_Crime/Vandalism/



RECENT NEWS:
Ms/Mr Tan Bee Wee from Blk 3 – a student from RP, had witnessed firsthand someone vandalising a car two months back, but was too afraid to speak up about it. Gave account of the man’s looks.



Dont be afraid to speak!!!



PERPETRATORS. Car thefts are committed by both professionals and amateurs. Professionals typically favor cars with greater resale values, either as spare parts or as entire vehicles. Amateurs tend to be joyriders and favor cars that are easy to hot wire, have good acceleration, or fun to drive.

LOCATION. The place a car is parked has a lot to do with the risk of car crime. In fact, vandalism to cars, thefts of car parts/ accessories, and thefts of personal items are not typically premeditated acts. Rather, these crimes tend to occur because a car was parked in an unsecured location with a large number of other cars, in places where perpetrators go unnoticed or can easily escape.

The following are some locations most prone to car crime:
-Large parking facilities, such as those at a shopping mall
-Parking facilities located in urban areas
-Parking facilities with easy access to freeways
-Surface lots with several pedestrianaccess points, inadequate lighting, poor surveillance, or little perimeter or access control
-Facilities located near schools, which attract greater risk of theft due to the proximity of juveniles prone to vandalism and more serious offenses.

TIME. The times of day and days of week when car crime occurs depends on parking facility usage patterns. Theft and vandalism are most prevalent when there is little surveillance or guardianship over vehicles. Cars left unattended for extended periods, such as during the workday or overnight, are at greater risk than those parked for short periods. In most climates, seasonality plays some role in car crimes as well, as perpetrators are more active in warmer weather months.






From obscene and violent language scrawled on a public bathroom door to elaborate murals on a brick wall, graffiti appears in many forms. But it’s all the same, if it’s not on the artist’s property— it’s vandalism, and it’s a crime.
Graffiti is often the first sign that gangs are taking over a neighborhood. Gangs’ “taggers” act as messengers for the gang, use graffiti to mark their turf, advertise their exploits, and challenge or threaten rival gangs.
Graffiti gives criminals the impression that residents don’t care about their neighborhood, and a neighborhood that doesn’t care is an easy target for crime. Don’t let this happen to your neighborhood— take a stand against graffiti and make sure graffiti is removed as soon as it appears. It takes persistence, but by working with law enforcement and other residents, you can keep your neighborhood clean and the effects of vandalism to a minimum.

Take Action

-Take pride in your surroundings. Vandalism cheapens your area and you.

-Learn about the costs and effects of vandalism by working with law enforcement, school officials, and community leaders. Teach what you learn to other teenagers and younger children.

- Start a clean-up crew at your school or in your neighborhood. Ask local businesses to donate supplies like paint and paintbrushes for covering graffiti, or tools and equipment for repairing vandalized property. Volunteer to help businesses and homeowners repair their property as soon as it is vandalized and paint over graffiti.

-Write articles for your school or community newspaper on the costs of vandalism and graffiti, their impact on school and other budgets for activities, and how the courts—juvenile and adult—treat vandals.

-Look for ways to use the talent and creativity of vandals in positive, nondestructive activities. Sponsor a mural contest at your school or a youth center. Encourage art supply stores and area businesses to provide large canvases and materials for kids to create murals inspired by themes like saying no to drugs, the importance of education, or celebrating diversity in your community. Ask local artists to attend and provide instruction and advice or judge a mural contest.

-Start a vandalism hotline in cooperation with law enforcement and school officials that lets callers anonymously report incidents of vandalism and gives tips about vandals.

-Work with your faith community to adopt a street or a park with your school, youth, or community group. Plant trees, bushes, and flowers. Repair equipment and install trash containers. Organize a monthly outing to clean up garbage and keep an eye on things.