Graffiti PreventionTe ārai tuhituhinga anuanu

Graffiti is an act of vandalism that costs communities thousands of dollars to remove or cover every year.

Graffiti vandalism or tagging is a community problem which can lower property values. It suggests that a neighbourhood doesn't care or isn't able to cope with the problem.

If graffiti is left it creates an environment where other vandalism and more serious crimes such as burglary and assault may occur.

Prevention

There are some steps you can take to discourage taggers from targeting your property. Some of the techniques we've found to be effective:

• Landscaping with a row of thorny shrubs along a wall to restrict access to the wall and reduce the surface area of the wall.
• Painting fences and walls as unpainted surfaces attract taggers.
• Using darker paint colours on walls and fences, which has been shown to be effective in preventing graffiti.
• Increasing lighting around your property and installing motion sensor lighting where practical.
• Installing video surveillance cameras as the possibility of being caught on film is a good deterrent.
• Doing an informal audit of your home or business and making changes where necessary:
• Could anyone jump onto your rubbish bin and then onto the roof?
• Is there a wall that doesn't face the street and is badly lit?
• Are there bins, buildings or bushes which might hide a tagger while they graffiti?
• Does your business have sign writing on a wall that is in danger of being tagged
• Investigate other new technology deterrents such as Resene Sentinel Paint or Stormwalls.

And if your property does get graffitied? Have your graffiti clean-up kit on hand so that any graffiti can be removed promptly before it attracts more graffiti or other vandalism.