Slashed tires, graffiti plague Crom Street

John Harris practices what he preaches.

The retired San Joaquin County probation officer and third-term Manteca councilman noticed two suspicious kids on bicycles on Crom Street by the municipal golf course as he was returning home at 1:30 a.m. New Year's morning. Harris, who lives nearby, said he followed the two for 20 minutes before they left the area.

"Kids that age had no business being out on the street at that time of night," Harris said.

Harris said Monday night that vigilance and the community working with the police is the only way to stem the growing tide of vandalism, graffiti and auto thefts.

Harris made his comments after Crom Street residents Richard and Karen Crowe shared their frustrations with the council and Police Chief Charlie Halford over the growing problem of graffiti and vandalism in their neighborhood.

Homes have been tagged with graffiti, tires slashed, items stolen from front yards and rag tops of convertibles shredded. One homeowner even had all four tires taken off his car as it was parked in his driveway.

Halford said the department was well aware of the Crom Street problems and extensive vandalism taking place at the nearby golf course.

Halford confirmed the police department has been incurring "significant overtime" and conducting "saturation patrols" in a bid to stop the gang-related crimes in the Crom Street neighborhood.

The police chief said the department suspects the culprits live nearby.

City officials urged residents to be vigilant and for anyone with information to call South County Crimestoppers at 823-4636. Anonymous information leading to an arrest can collect a reward of up to $1,000. City attorney John Brinton said the courts can hold parents responsible for the financial damage that their minor children create through vandalism and graffiti.

Halford emphasized "the problem is happening throughout Manteca" and not just along Crom Street.

He attributed the increase in crimes from auto theft, vandalism, and graffiti to gang activity.

Manteca has an aggressive ordinance that requires property owners to eradicate graffiti in a timely fashion or face fines.

Halford said the ordinance is based on experience that graffiti, if it is not immediately removed, literally breeds."

Manteca Police spokesman Rex Osborn said the upswing in graffiti has caught a lot of people by surprise because they usually don't see that much thanks to the rapid response of the Seniors Helping Area Residents and Police volunteers. The group is responsible for the bulk of photographing graffiti and making sure it is eradicated either by contacting property owners or doing it themselves.

Karen Crowe noted that she had called the police department twice about the gang-related graffiti near her home but no one had responded.

Both Osborn and Halford said the surge in graffiti has made it tough for the vigilant SHARP volunteers to keep up with things.

By DENNIS WYATT

Managing editor of the

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin

Cop cars aren't even safe