Rewards for turning in graffiti vandals yielding results in Hemet, other communities


10:00 PM PST on Friday, January 4, 2008

By HERBERT ATIENZA
The Press-Enterprise

In the last three years, nine people claimed a $2,000 reward offered by the city to anyone who provides information that led to the arrest and conviction of graffiti vandals in Hemet.

Prospective informants have not exactly been beating down the police department's door hoping to get the reward, but police say the reward program is making a difference, especially when paired with other anti-graffiti efforts.

"I think it's worth it," Hemet police Lt. Duane Wisehart said. He said any arrest and conviction of a vandal has a big impact on a community, because some individuals are prolific and cause significant damage.

For several years, Hemet has given rewards to people for providing information that leads to bringing vandals to justice. In 2005, the reward was raised from $1,000 to $2,000 per incident in a bid to encourage more people to come in with information.

Finance Director Laura Nomura said four rewards have been handed out so far, in the 2007-08 fiscal year; two in the last fiscal year; and three in the previous fiscal year. She said the money comes from a budget the city sets aside for graffiti removal. This year, the city has budgeted $73,600 for graffiti removal.

Hemet resident Adele Chambers says she believes people are not turning in information because they fear retaliation.

"No one likes a snitch," she said.

Chambers said graffiti is a problem in Hemet, but the city has been doing a good job keeping the problem under control. Aside from the reward program, she said, the city should offer more diversionary programs for young people who could be prone to commit vandalism.

Graffiti remains a costly problem for Hemet and surrounding areas.

About $23,500 in clean up costs have been incurred in Hemet and surrounding unincorporated areas in the last six months, said Sam Goepp, general manager of Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District, which has a contract with the city and county to clean up graffiti.

Reach Herbert Atienza at 951-763-3464 or hatienza@PE.com