Thursday, February 14, 2008

Crime Does Pay!

If you recall a couple of weeks ago, a tagger decided to take a gamble and spray paint a unit at the Santiago Street Lofts. Well, that gamble he took paid off—me that is.


Mixed in with my usual magazine subscription renewals in yesterday's mail was this nice little "refund check" from the city of Santa Ana's Graffiti Reward Program.

I was shocked to see the reward arrive so soon after the incident. The last check from the previous tagger I caught with the help of an awesome neighbor (yes, catching taggers is now a part-time job for me) took about 9 months to process.

I'm really hoping that this was the last time a kid decides to deface someone's home in our community—but it probably won't be.

I'm tired of hearing the lame-ass excuse that they tagged our homes because they "thought our homes were businesses"—it’s vandalism and it makes no difference to me.

I wish that they would stop trying to explain to me that all they are trying to do is get some "respect", when they are blind to see that defacing someone's property is probably the worst way to achieve that goal.

You want some respect? Don't write on the walls, sidewalks, buildings or trees, and you've got my respect.

7 comments :

Anonymous said...

You are da man.

Stephen Manning said...

taggers are raised in households where they learn to make excuses for their actions rather than be made responsible and punished accordingly.

So, the citizens, the police, and the courts get to parent these 'tards.

Anonymous said...

Bravo Ben!

Batwoman

Cyrus said...

You're very right about being cloned my friend...Make sure you spend that money wisely, perhaps some beer, a new Wii game and some more Pepper Spray.

Anonymous said...

Wow, the gov'mnt pays vigilantes -- fun place!

Anonymous said...

u all F*$kers know that kids doing graffiti aint saying its respect it is culture art and creativity

Ben Dayhoe said...

That's fine, as long as I don't have to pay for its removal.