Resources useful for understanding graffiti crime.

The Problem of Graffiti 
Deborah Lamm Weisel
Guide No.9 (2002)

This guide addresses effective responses to the problem of graffiti — the wide range of markings, etchings and paintings that deface public or private property.  In recent decades, graffiti has become an extensive problem, spreading from the largest cities to other locales.  Despite the common association of graffiti with gangs, graffiti is widely found in jurisdictions of all sizes, and graffiti offenders are by no means limited to gangs...

Because of its rising prevalence in many areas — and the high costs typically associated with cleanup and prevention — graffiti is often viewed as a persistent, if not an intractable, problem.  Few graffiti offenders are apprehended, and some change their methods and locations in response to possible apprehension and cleanups.

As with most forms of vandalism, graffiti is not routinely reported to police.  Many people think that graffiti is not a police or "real crime" problem, or that the police can do little about it.  Because graffiti is not routinely reported to police or other agencies, its true scope is unknown.  But graffiti has become a major concern, and the mass media, including movies and websites glamorizing or promoting graffiti as an acceptable form of urban street art, have contributed to its spread.

Although graffiti is a common problem, its intensity varies substantially from place to place.  While a single incident of graffiti does not seem serious, graffiti has a serious cumulative effect; its initial appearance in a location appears to attract more graffiti.  Local graffiti patterns appear to emerge over time, thus graffiti takes distinctive forms, is found in different locations, and may be associated with varying motives of graffiti offenders.  These varying attributes offer important clues to the control and prevention of graffiti.

For many people, graffiti's presence suggests the government's failure to protect citizens and control lawbreakers.  There are huge public costs associated with graffiti: an estimated $12 billion a year is spent cleaning up graffiti in the United States.  Graffiti contributes to lost revenue associated with reduced ridership on transit systems, reduced retail sales and declines in property value.  In addition, graffiti generates the perception of blight and heightens fear of gang activity...

Read more at Popcenter.org or download as a PDF document.

Stop Graffiti Vandalism
Crime Prevention Division
NSW Attorney General’s Department

The most appropriate graffiti strategy for your local area will depend on the nature of the problem.  The graffiti vandalism problem can be influenced by factors such as the amount and spread of graffiti, the type of graffiti vandalism, demographics of offenders and the type of property targeted.  This fact sheet will provide you with information to allow you to examine your local context in detail.  This should help you to decide on strategies that will be the most effective and cost efficient. Collecting this information also provides you with detailed baseline data to use in your project evaluation...

Read more by downloading as a PDF document.

Graffiti Vandalism - How to Reduce Your Risk
Government of South Australia

Graffiti vandalism is a significant problem for businesses, as graffiti detracts from the image that retailers work hard to maintain.  This crime often occurs out of business hours, making many people believe that little can be done to prevent it.  However, it is possible to substantially reduce the vulnerability of your premises to graffiti...

Read more by downloading as a PDF document.

Learn more about Graffiti Abatement Techniques from Doug Smith.

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