Prevent it
Residents can help in graffiti prevention!
Get educated, learn about graffiti vandalism
- How it impacts you and your community
- How to report it
- Who is responsible for graffiti prevention and cleanup in your area
Keep up appearances
- Make every effort to keep the appearance of your residence clean and neat
- An exterior appearance that suggests apathy and neglect attracts vandals; litter, broken fences, overgrown landscaping, and poor lighting all send a message to vandals that property owners are not attentive or do not care
Remove graffiti quickly
- Prompt and continual removal of graffiti is the best way for residents to protect their property and preserve the image of their neighbourhood
- Studies show that removal within 24 to 48 hours results in a nearly zero rate of reoccurrence
- Before removal, make sure you have reported the incident to RCMP non-emergency complaint line at 780-467-7741.
Build in prevention
- Incorporate shrubs, thorny plants, and vines to restrict vandal access to residence walls, fences, sheds, garages, and other graffiti targets
- Add or improve lighting around your property to promote natural surveillance
- Consider a home security system and post signs that such a system is in operation
- For condo owners, work with residential property managers to incorporate graffiti prevention into building security
Work with neighbours and law enforcement
- Organize a Neighbourhood Watch to help law enforcement keep tabs on criminal activity in your neighbourhood
- Ask police to step up security in your neighbourhood, especially if there are alleys, unlit areas, vacant properties, or other graffiti targets near your residence
- Adopt-a-spot in your neighbourhood and keep it graffiti free
Additional information
780-464-8470
graffiti@strathcona.ab.ca
Last updated: Thursday, June 09, 2011
Page ID: 3583