Comal County Crime Stoppers

CRIME STOPPERS
SPECIAL RELEASE

New Braunfels/ Comal County Crime Stoppers
January 14, 2008

Crime Stoppers announces new graffiti initiative… helping to keep our communities safe and clean.

New Braunfels, TX

Responding to requests from New Braunfels Police Chief Ron Everett, the New Braunfels/ Comal County Crime Stoppers Board recently voted to offer a minimum standing reward of $250 for information leading to the arrest of those who post graffiti in our communities.

Graffiti is defined by the US Department of Justice as “ the wide range of markings, etchings, and paintings that deface public or private property”. A problem traditionally found in larger cities for decades has now found its way into hometown America. Most people associate graffiti with gangs, but the fact is that there are many motives for public marking of property.

As with most forms of vandalism, graffiti is often underreported. A singular incident may not be cause for alarm, but the acts are cumulative, and soon areas affected begin to take on a blighted appearance. Such areas tend to give out “crime promoting signals”, inviting more serious criminal behaviors by those who frequent those locals. It is the goal of local law enforcement agencies to interrupt the regression of our public areas into places where law-abiding citizens do not feel safe to frequent.

A 2002 estimate of the clean-up costs of graffiti in the United States exceeded over $12 billion. Abatement programs take up public resources; affect property values, with businesses experiencing decreased retail sales. Some of the related problems associated with graffiti are offenses such as littering, disorderly conduct, under-age drinking, drug use, shoplifting of tagging supplies, gang activity, and further acts of vandalism or destruction of property.

The Texas Penal Code, Section 28.08, relates that a person commits an offense if, without the effective consent of the owner, a person intentionally or knowingly makes markings, including inscriptions, slogans, drawings, or paintings, on the tangible property of the owner with: aerosol paint, indelible marker, or any etching or engraving device. The penalty range for graffiti begins at a Class B Misdemeanor, all the way up to a First Degree Felony, depending upon the pecuniary loss to property.

Any marking made on a school, an institution of higher education, a place of worship or human burial, a public monument, or a community center that provides medical, social, or educational programs is automatically a State Jail Felony. The Crime Stoppers tip reward may exceed $250 in those cases.

Crime Stoppers is assisting our law enforcement agencies in instituting a minimum $250 reward for information leading to the arrest of those persons who commit acts of graffiti in our communities. Anyone with information about the identity of a person who commits such acts is asked to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline. If your tip results in the solution of a graffiti case, you can be eligible for a cash reward.

Remember that Crime Stoppers also pays $200 for information, which leads to the arrest of wanted felons, and $100 for those wanted on Class A & B Misdemeanors.

Crime Stoppers will pay a maximum cash reward of up to $1,000.00 for information leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for the commission of crimes. All calls are confidential and the caller will remain anonymous.

CALL 830-620-TIPS (8477), or 800-640-8422
New Braunfels/ Comal County Crime Stoppers

www.comalcrimestoppers.org