Security issue: Graffiti
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Security issue: Graffiti
Grafitti is the defacement of property by means of writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed on a surface in a public place without the consent of the owner or person having custody or control.
Description
Motives for grafitti are various and the type of grafitti varies with the motives. A classification of types of grafitti with the associated features is presented in [[1]].
| Types of Graffiti and Associated Motives | ' | ' |
| Type of Graffiti | Features | Motives |
| Gang[1] | Gang name or symbol, including hand signs Gang member name(s) or nickname(s), or sometimes a roll-call listing of members Numbers[2] Distinctive, stylized alphabets[3] Key visible locations Enemy names and symbols, or allies' names | Mark turf Threaten violence Boast of achievements Honor the slain Insult/taunt other gangs |
| Common Tagger[4] | High-volume, accessible locations High-visibility, hard-to-reach locations May be stylized but simple name or nickname tag or symbols[5] Tenacious (keep retagging) | Notoriety or prestige Defiance of authority |
| Artistic Tagger | Colorful and complex pictures known as masterpieces or pieces | Artistic Prestige or recognition |
| Conventional Graffiti: Spontaneous | Sporadic episodes or isolated incidents | Play Rite of passage Excitement Impulsive |
| Conventional Graffiti: Malicious or Vindictive | Sporadic, isolated or systematic incidents | Anger Boredom Resentment Failure Despair |
| Ideological | Offensive content or symbols Racial, ethnic or religious slurs Specific targets, such as synagogues Highly legible Slogans | Anger Hate Political Hostility Defiance |
Attributing circumstances
- Other grafitti or deterioration
- Vulnerable objects
- transportation systems
- highly visible surfaces (also mobile targets, such as buses or trains!)
- blank surfaces
- light coloured surface
- large and plain surfaces
- reachable surfaces[6]
- Absence of apparent ownership
- Poor lighting
- Little surveillance/oversight
- Close to gang activity
Impacts
Measures
Footnotes and references
- ↑ Copycat graffiti looks like gang graffiti, and may be the work of gang wanna-bes or youths seeking excitement.
- ↑ Offenders commonly use numbers as code in gang graffiti. A number may represent the corresponding position in the alphabet (e.g., 13 = M, for the Mexican Mafia), or represent a penal or police radio code.
- ↑ Stylized alphabets include bubble letters, block letters, backwards letters, and Old English script.
- ↑ Tagbangers, a derivative of tagging crews and gangs, are characterized by competition with other crews. Thus crossedout tags are features of their graffiti.
- ↑ The single-line writing of a name is usually known as a tag, while slightly more complex tags, including those with two colors or bubble letters, are known as throw-ups.
- ↑ although hard-to-reach surfaces, such as motorway cross-overs might be regarded as attractive challenges
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