The City of Santa Clarita’s Graffiti Task Force has made significant strides in protecting the community against graffiti vandalism with the use of the City’s Graffiti Tracking Database.  Since the database was first used in 2006, the SCV Sheriff’s Department has apprehended more than 1,000 graffiti vandals to date.  The award-winning Graffiti Tracking Database has proven to be an instrumental tool in providing evidence to the Sheriff’s Department for arrests and convictions.

The Graffiti Task Force operates on a three-prong approach: quick removal of graffiti, arrest of graffiti vandals, and community education and outreach. City staff enters all graffiti removal service requests and photos into the Graffiti Tracking Database, allowing the Sheriff’s Department to access vital information that is helpful in stopping graffiti vandals.  The Graffiti Task Force includes the City’s graffiti team, the Sheriff’s Department, the Santa Clarita school districts, residents, and other local agencies.

The City spends an average of $500,000 on graffiti removal annually, eradicating more than 5,500 incidents of graffiti in 2010 alone.

“The City of Santa Clarita believes the best way to address the issue of graffiti is head on.  We may never be able to completely stop graffiti from happening, but we can curtail the problem by quickly removing it, educating our youth, empowering residents to report graffiti, and ensuring that vandals are held accountable,” commented Mayor Marsha McLean.

Residents should report graffiti online through the City’s E-Graffiti service at santa-clarita.com, or call the Graffiti Hotline at 661-252-5326.  For more information please contact Cynthia Llerenas, community services supervisor, at 661-250-3720.