Graffiti Removal and Prevention
Brochure from the Long Beach Police Department Crime Prevention Unit

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"Graffiti hurts everyone in the community. It is imperative for citizens to take a stance against graffiti, and report it."

Graffiti is illegal. It leads to the decline of neighborhoods and breeds criminal activity. This guide is intended to give you prevention information and resources to help you eliminate graffiti in your neighborhood.

What Is Graffiti?
According to the Long Beach Municipal code, graffiti is any unauthorized inscription, word, figure, or design, which is marked, etched, scratched, drawn or painted on any structural component of any building structure, or other facility regardless of the nature of material of that structural component.

Graffiti come in many forms. It can be a person's name or "tag," group or gang name or any combination of written words or symbols. Spray-paint, markers, stickers, glass etchers and acid are some of the ways taggers vandalize property.

Why Is It Harmful?

• Graffiti reduces the value of properties
• Graffiti diminishes the quality of life
• Graffiti lowers community pride
• Graffiti is costly to both personal and city funds through removal expenses
• Graffiti paves the way for more serious crime and neighborhood blight

Graffiti hurts everyone in the community. It is imperative for citizens to take a stance against graffiti, and report it.

Erase The Problem!

1. Remove graffiti immediately. When graffiti is ignored or not removed in a timely manner, it encourages taggers to continue defacing your property. The sooner you cover the tagging, the sooner it stops.
2. Form a Graffiti Watch within your neighborhood. Partner with community members and business neighbors to keep a watch on your neighborhood.
3. Use anti-graffiti coatings on your property for easier removal of graffiti.
4. Use plants such as bougainvillea or creeping ivy to cover property areas such as block walls that may be tempting to graffiti vandals.
5. Keep your property well lit. Taggers love to work in darkness. Motion-sensor lights are often good deterrents in problem areas.
6. Use cameras to aid in the apprehension of taggers
7. Keep a written log of graffiti incidents and take photos of chronic graffiti problems.
8. Move any large vans, cars, garbage cans, or other items that can be used to gain access to the roof.
9. NEVER confront a tagger!  Many taggers may be armed with weapons. Be a good witness and call 911. Provide the police with a detailed description of the person(s) responsible.

Help Is Available
Free Paint Voucher Program
This program is administered by the Department of Community Development. This program offers one free gallon of paint per person to cover graffiti within Long Beach. Please call (562) 570-2773 for more information.

Graffiti Prevention Landscape Program
This program offers up to $1,000 to owners of commercial and large residential properties that are graffiti targets. The funds can be used for plants, planters, concrete removal materials or labor to defend against graffiti. For more information call (562) 570-6866.

Graffiti Removal Hotline
For graffiti on Long Beach property, contact the Graffiti Hotline at (562) 570-2773. Gang affiliated graffiti, or graffiti which contains racial slurs, profanity or is violent in nature will be removed within 24 hours. Other graffiti will be removed within 72 hours.

LA County Property
Graffiti outside the City of Long Beach within LA County should be reported at (800) 675-4357. (This includes flood control structures.)

Graffiti on Freeways
For graffiti on freeways, excluding underpasses and exterior walls, contact Cal Trans at (310) 342-6161. Report graffiti on freeway signs to (213) 620-3991.

"If you witness a tagger committing an act of vandalism, call 911. If you provide information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspect, you could receive a cash reward. You may also report these crimes anonymously."

Do Not Ignore The Problem!
Long Beach Municipal Code section 8.58.030 states that the existence of graffiti upon any property is expressly declared to be a public nuisance. "It shall be the duty of both the owner of the lot and any person who may be in possession or who has a right to such possession to at all times keep such lot clean and free from graffiti."

If it appears that property owners are not cooperating in keeping their property graffiti free, they may be referred to Code Enforcement, who may impose both penalties and fines.

Do your part by refusing to be a victim. Take Responsibility and demonstrate civic pride in joining the movement toward graffiti eradication. Report graffiti whenever you see it. Even if it is not on your own property, report it to the Graffiti Hotline (562) 570-2773.

If you witness a tagger committing an act of vandalism, call 911. If you provide information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspect, you could receive a cash reward. You may also report these crimes anonymously.

Warning to Parents
Parents can be held responsible for the crimes that their children commit and may have to pay restitution to the victim. It is also illegal for a minor to possess spray paint, marking pens and etching tools unless they have a legitimate reason to do so. If you suspect that your child is involved in graffiti, contact the Police Department at (562) 435-6711 for assistance.

Signs to look for:

• Tags, or nicknames on backpacks, notebooks or skateboards
• Markings in their bedroom or on their personal property
• Possession of marking pens, spray-paint or glass etching tools
• Spray-paint or markings on their hands and fingertips

For more information on this, or any other form of crime prevention, contact:

City of Long Beach
Police Department Crime Prevention Unit
100 Long Beach Boulevard
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 570-7215