(Feb 15 2008) - Spray Can Criminals Can be Caught
Post Opinion : Post Editor - A. L. "LUCKY" Lucketta

PORTERVILLE, CA -- Saturday, while driving home from Bakersfield on highway 190 to Porterville, I noticed that a couple of advertisement signs had been vandalized by spray-can-criminals. As you can see from the two pictures displayed, these taggers cared less for the content of the advertisement. All they wanted to do is display their disdain for private property.

SPRAY CAN CRIMINALS CAN BE CAUGHT

From what I could tell, these graffiti taggers are from this area and have demonstrated their non-compliance with the law for some time now.

I have pictured and documented on Gang Watchers web site, what the difference is between gang tags and these “SPRAY-CAN-CRIMINALS”. I for one view these graffiti guys as unrepentant and should be held accountable for their crimes.

But you say … “We have laws on the books that deal with this, don’t we ?” Yes we do. However, the local police need our help in catching these spray-can criminals. And they can do a better job if we, John Q Public, quit looking the other way. We must report what we see to the local police (559) 782-7400 and if we have knowledge of who actually did it, by all means people … tell the police.

Taggers, for the most part, really enjoy the attention they get when they commit these crimes of vandalism. They even stage competitions in some areas, regarding the look, the speed and how high it can be displayed on the billboards, fences, or property. They have look outs posted while they paint up the property, take pictures and then go and party at someone’s house to celebrate their crime.

With that being said, I have a plan to reduce the graffiti tagging and reveal who the spray-can criminals are … it’s called BOUNTY. In other words, the “Victims of Vandalism” should set up a Non-profit organization designed to help reduce graffiti and to supply a reward to those who submit information leading to the arrest and conviction of these spay-can criminals.

Second, the “Victims of Vandalism” should record the names of these spay-can criminals on their web page or use another wed source so “John Q Public” will know who was caught and who to watch out for in their neighborhood.

Since this is my concern and opinion about what should happen, what’s yours ? I’d like to hear from you and what you have to say. If you have another way to solve this problem, the Post will more than happy put your thoughts on-line. Just submit an e-mail to letters@portervillepost.com. Thanks … A.L.Lucketta

A. L. "LUCKY" Lucketta - Editor