Falls Church Police Looking for Those Responsible for Graffiti Around Town

In 2010, the City of Falls Church Police received 21 reports of graffiti. Through August, they have already received 31 reports of graffiti.

Mary Gavin, deputy chief of the city’s police force, said the police need the public’s help finding those behind the “tagging,” as it is called. Gavin said the “tags” are mostly nicknames and other things but none of it is gang related.

“In the last two months, we’ve had 16 reports of graffiti,” Gavin said.

In 2009, there were 100 reports of graffiti in the city, Gavin said. She said some of those responsible for the graffiti then were identified. She said she believes this latest rash of graffiti is coming from younger people who are influenced by the older generation of taggers. So far no one has been identified. The subject(s) have spray painted public and private property including buildings and utility boxes. Gavin said removing the graffiti takes time and use of public resources to remove.

The graffiti is an eyesore to the community resulting in possible threats to the quality of life for the citizens, economic loss for local businesses, and lower property values for the area, city spokeswoman Barbara Gordon said in a press release Monday. She said the cleanup for the graffiti takes up valuable time and resources for property owners and City Public Works crews.  It also damages property and costs time and money for its removal.

“Graffiti is not art,” she said in a telephone interview. “It is potentially damaging to the community.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 1-866-411-TIPS. Callers may remain anonymous. Crime Solvers will pay cash rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s).