Defacing Common Elements: Catching A Graffiti Artist

The first reaction of any Board when faced with a situation where an individual has defaced the common elements with graffiti is to repair the damage and remove or cover up the graffiti. Understandably so, because graffiti tends to give the appearance of disrepair or decline in the community, but by removing the graffiti without properly documenting the incident, you may be doing the Association a disservice. By taking a few moments, you can help the local authorities catch the graffiti artist.

Take Color Photographs. Graffiti is a crime and the photographs can be used to identify, track and prosecute the perpetrator.

Often in areas where graffiti is prevalent, there are detailed records, including photographs of each graffiti artist’s work and even of their tags or throw-ups. Tags and throw-ups are stylized signatures of the artist that he or she will almost always put in their work to identify the artist to other people.

Color photographs are valuable evidence because most of the artists pieces are distinctive, especially with the colors used and how they are used. In addition to taking the color photographs, record the location of the graffiti as well as the date and time each photo is taken.

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