One city that is getting it right

Police purchase graffiti cameras

By Staff Reports
(Created: Tuesday, August 5, 2008 10:13 AM CDT)
In response to a rash of recent vandalism involving graffiti, the Rowlett [Texas] Police Department has purchased high-tech cameras in hopes of catching the perpetrators and curtailing the problem, the Rowlett Police Department announced this week.

The device uses digital cameras and wireless technology to capture a photograph of the vandals in action. The camera emits a loud audible noise, warning the vandals that their photographs have just been taken. Detectives retrieve the photographs, identify the suspect, and use it in the prosecution.

Even though police say that less than 5 percent of the city’s graffiti is gang-related, it still represents a problem in terms of property values and economic development.

The city began to notice an increase in 2006 when 59 incidents were reports. So far this year, there have been at least 22 cases. The Highpoint Industrial Park is a popular spot for taggers, those who are typically responsible the vandalism.

Rowlett Police Chief Matt Walling said, “The police department and the city’s Economic Development Department met recently with local businesses in the Highpoint Industrial Park to share ideas and information to come up with a plan to reduce the number of graffiti offenses being committed. The “graffiti cameras” are one of the tools identified in the meetings to help combat the graffiti problem. The businesses will also become the “eyes and ears” of the police department by reporting suspicious activity when they observe it. This type of collaborative effort has been successful in cities all across America.”

The cameras, manufactured by Q-Star Technologies in Torrance Calif., are in use in numerous cities throughout the United States. Rowlett police say these cameras have been extremely successful in reducing graffiti, illegal dumping and other criminal activity. The cameras can be deployed rapidly and moved anywhere a problem is identified.

In the past the police have had to depend on catching the suspect in the act or informants to solve these crimes.

Rowlett police say the flexibility to deploy the cameras allow patrol officers to have more time to answer high priority calls.

As part of this new response to vandalism the Rowlett Police Department has launched a graffiti information page on its website at http://www.rowlett.com/Rowlett/Departments/Police/Graffiti_Landing.htm

report_taggers@rowlett.com has been setup for citizens to email detectives with tips on graffiti. Currently the city has an email hotline to report taggers and graffiti artists. The address is report_taggers@rowlett.com. Or they can police dispatch at 972-412-6200 option #1 to report crimes in progress.

The city also is working on other measures such as an abatement response and educational programs.l