Graffiti is growing problem in Auburn as vandals target city property, businesses
By: Jenna Nielsen, Journal Staff Writer
It's found on buildings, walls, businesses and just about any hard surface in Auburn that could become an illegal canvas.Auburn Police officials say graffiti has become a problem, and the victims are often business and property owners.
"Anytime you have graffiti, it's a problem," said Sgt. Dale Hutchins, of the Auburn Police Department. "You are victimizing innocent people. It is hard enough to keep a business going as it is - with the economy of the country slowing down the last thing you need is to walk outside and find graffiti on your building."Hutchins said graffiti mostly appears on businesses and city property and rarely at residences."Mostly, you have gangs wanting to mark their territory and those who just want to make a statement," Hutchins said. "And these people just don't respect other people's property."It's most common under bridges and train trestles, where vandals have a large surface to work with and are less likely to get caught in the act.The city of Auburn has an ordinance that leaves the property owner liable to clean up the graffiti."When we see graffiti, we report it to the owner of the property," Hutchins said. "They are required to clean it up."Graffiti that occurs on city property becomes the responsibility of the taxpayers.Julie Lardner, owner of a Downtown-area business who asked her shop not be named for fear of more vandalism, said she just had to paint over a concrete wall that was spray-painted with graffiti last week."We wanted to get rid of it as soon as we could because anything on that wall is very visible to the (Placer) High School kids who walk by it at lunch," Lardner said. "We also don't want the kids seeing it and thinking it's something to do."Lardner said it wasn't the first time her business was hit."Two years ago our roofline was hit," Lardner said. "More than anything it is just a huge inconvenience. And we worry that they are getting on our roof. But we have no way of knowing if it is someone who lives around here or if it was just someone visiting and passing through."Hutchins said catching graffiti vandals is almost as difficult as preventing the crime."It's very difficult to catch these people unless you have an eye-witness and (the crime) is in progress," Hutchins said. "And as soon as you paint over it or remove it, it comes right back."Lardner said all she can do at this point is keep a close eye on her business, and hope she doesn't get hit again."It just costs us time and money," Lardner said. "We have to keep repainting it not only to cover it up, but to keep it looking decent."The Journal's Jenna Nielsen can be reached at jennan@goldcountrymedia.com or comment on this story at auburnjournal.com.
GraffitiWhat: If you see someone committing an act of vandalism, including placing graffiti, call 911. If you want to report graffiti, call the Auburn Police Department at (530) 823-4237.
