Turlock Police Department

Neighborhood Services

Graffiti

How can I prevent graffiti?

Why does graffiti need to be removed?

How can I use landscaping to deter graffiti vandals?

Gang graffiti vs Tagging

Laws regarding graffiti

Volunteer to help paint over graffiti

Report graffiti

How can I prevent graffiti?

• Report any graffiti you find immediately to the appropriate agency. This is important for two reasons: to identify trends in type/location of graffiti and to get it cleaned up promptly.
• Remove any graffiti immediately to show that you care about your property. This will dissuade the graffiti vandal because it doesn’t give the recognition they are looking for if you remove it quickly.
• Visually discourage graffiti vandals from using your property by choosing darker paint colors. This makes their monikers stand out less, contradicting their goal of quick and easy recognition.
• Install motion-activated lights or security cameras on your property to scare them away.
• Use landscaping to deter graffiti vandals. Plant thorny or vine plants in front of ideal surfaces such as wall or fences. Graffiti vandals will avoid thorny plants so they don't get hurt or rip their clothes. Vine plants make the surfaces difficult to paint.
• If graffiti vandals continue to use your wood fence, consider installing a metal cyclone fence so the surface is no longer flat and easy to paint.
• If a wall, roof or flat surface is easy for graffiti vandals to access, make it more difficult by installing locks, fences, or gates.
• Identify and report any individuals you feel may be involved in graffiti vandalism; look for the warning signs.
• Work with local law enforcement, the school district, and the community to establish supervised/constructive late night alternatives like nighttime basketball, competitive drill teams, or dance programs.
• Know who your local resources are: school district administrators, community officials, school law enforcement officers, and area law enforcement officers.
• Get involved in or start a neighborhood watch program in your area.
• Know the key phone numbers to use in reporting graffiti in the Turlock area.

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Why does graffiti need to be removed?

Removing graffiti immediately shows that you care about your property and community. Prompt removal may dissuade the graffiti vandals from returning because their moniker/tag will not be seen by their peer group or the general public. The main objective of the vandals is to become infamous by the recognition.

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How can I use landscaping to deter graffiti vandals?

The following list offers ideas for shrubs and vining. However, check before you plant to ensure your selection is compatible with your soil and climate.

NAME	DEFENSE	FLOWER / BERRY
Berberis Darwin Barbary	Thorns	Orange/Blue
Berberis Thunbergii	Thorns	White/Blue
Bougainvillea	Thorns	Red/Purple
Chaenomeles species—flowering	Thorns	Red/Yellow
Libson Eureka Lemon	Thorns	White/Yellow
Bearss Lime	Thorns	White/Green
Pyracantha	Thorns	White/Red
Pomegranate	Thorns	Orange/Red
Dwarf Pomegranate	Thorns	Orange
Roses	Thorns	Various
Xylosma	Thorns	————
Pampas Grass	Prickly Foliage	White
Hybrid Holly	Prickly Foliage	White/Red
Unright Juniper	Prickly Foliage	————
Mahonia species	Prickly Foliage	Yellow/Blue
Yucca Gloriosa	Prickly Foliage	White
BARRIER PLANTS
Berberis (Barberry)	Thorny
Blackberry	Thorny, very invasive, fruit bearing
Bougainvillea	Vine
Creeping Fig	Good cover on walls
English Ivy	Good cover, somewhat invasive
Firethorn	Thorny
Flowering Quince	Ornamental
Grevillea	Sharp foliage
Hakea	Invasive, mean shrub
Holly	Drought tolerant
Juniper	Slow growing
Lisbon Lemon	Thorny citrus
Mahonia	Slow growing
Rugosa Rose	California Native
Sterile Pampas	Does not reseed
Yucca	Slow to moderate growing

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Gang graffiti vs Tagging

GANG GRAFFITI (example: Blood, Crip, Norteno, Sureno)

• Gang name or symbol
• Hand signs
• Gang member name or nickname
• Numbers
• Visible locations
• Enemy name or symbol

GANG GRAFFITI MOTIVES:

• Mark territory
• Threaten violence
• Boast achievements
• Honor the dead
• Insult / taunt other gangs

****Be careful when removing or painting over gang graffiti. The gang may take offense to the removal of their mark. Never remove or paint over graffiti alone.

COMMON TAGGER

• High volume, accessible locations
• High visibility, hard-to-reach locations
• Simple name, nickname or symbol
• Artistic tagger: colorful pictures

COMMON TAGGER MOTIVES:

• Notoriety
• Defiance of authority
• Recognition

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Laws regarding graffiti

City of Turlock Municipal Code - Section 4-14-401 through 4-14-408

City of Turlock Municipal Code - Section 9-2-109

State of California Penal Code - Section 594-625c

State of California Penal Code - Section 639-653.1


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Volunteer to help paint over graffiti

Interested in helping the City of Turlock make your neighborhood graffiti-free? If you are concerned about graffiti in the city, volunteer one Saturday a month to help Neighborhood Services paint out graffiti. We start at 8:30am and finish by 2:00pm. Wear clothing you can get dirty, and no gang colors (blue, red, black, yellow). Call Neighborhood Services at 209-668-5550 ext 6609 to get the date for the next planned Graffiti Abatement Day.

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Report graffiti

Report graffiti with our online Citizen Report Form

The City of Turlock, Neighborhood Services Bureau is asking for your help! Join efforts with Neighborhood Services to report graffiti sightings in your neighborhood! Call the TAG (Turlock Against Graffiti) hotline at 209-668-5550 ext 6791 and leave the location of the graffiti. The message can be anonymous, however, if we cannot locate the graffiti, leaving your name and phone number would help us to clarify the location of the graffiti. Neighborhood Services will verify the report and make certain the graffiti is painted over. Graffiti is a community problem and it takes effort to keep it in check. Thank you!

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