Graffiti
Graffiti continues to be a source of frustration and concern for
the residents of Albuquerque. Graffiti vandals costs our community
tens of thousands of dollars in removal and clean up each year.
The City of Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Police Department is
committed to apprehending and prosecuting the offenders as well
as helping to remove this unsightly destruction of property. The
police cannot address this problem alone. With the assistance of
all concerned citizens we can enhance the image and esthetic value
of our beautiful city.
What can you do to help?
- Report all graffiti vandalism in public areas to the Solid Waste
Management Department, Graffiti Hotline at 768-4725.
- Report known vandals to Crime Stoppers at 843-STOP or your local
Area Command.
- If you suspect gang markings, contact your local Area Command
or the APD Gang Unit and take a picture prior to removing.
- Remove all graffiti markings within 24 hours of observation.
If the markings appear the next day – remove them promptly.
- Clean up often has to be done again and again, but be patient
and more persistent than the vandals, they will eventually move
to another location.
- Advise property owners of their individual responsibilities
to remove graffiti in a timely manner, especially if they appear
to be unresponsive to the problem.
- Ask utility/power companies to remove graffiti from their property
and equipment.
- Ask local hardware stores (or any store that sells spray paint)
not to sell spray paint to minors. Request they place spray paint
and paint markers in areas where employees can monitor sales and
shoplifting. (Note: City Ordinance 12-4-15 states, “No person
other than a parent, guardian or other adult person acting in
their place shall sell or otherwise provide aerosol spray paint
to any person under the 18 years of age and no person under the
age of 18 years shall buy or attempt to buy any aerosol spray
paint.” Further, any establishment that sells spray paint
must, by Ordinance, display specific signage that announces and
describes this provision. Also, proof of age is required prior
to any sale.
- Coat surfaces with special paint products that prohibit spray
paint from sticking.
- Organize a community clean up. This type of activity is a great
way to foster positive community involvement and will help to
improve the value and image or your neighborhood.
Remember—whether committed by gang members or taggers, the
presence of graffiti in a neighborhood can increase residents' fears
about their safety and even reduce property values. Its presence
can also signify to criminals that residents don't care about their
neighborhood. With patience and persistence we can clean up Albuquerque
together.
APD Crime Prevention 924-3600