Graffiti incidents probably isolated, Stockton says

Businesses hit; residents are asked to keep watch


By Wesley Young
KERNERSVILLE JOURNAL REPORTER


KERNERSVILLE

A rash of graffiti incidents has some Kernersville officials wondering whether the town has a growing graffiti problem.

Someone put brightly colored graffiti on the upper part of the Sun Splash Tan building at the corner of Main and Mountain streets in the town's central square.

There were reports of other incidents of similar graffiti on several businesses on Bodenhamer Street last weekend, said Chief Neal Stockton of the Kernersville Police Department.

The town does not have a major problem with graffiti, Stockton said.

"I would say it was a problem if you had different groups," Stockton said, adding that the recent round of graffiti doesn't appear to be the work of a gang.

"We have got an isolated group of people doing this graffiti," Stockton said. "I think it is the same person because it is the same initials and the same style. Usually, when you get an individual who is doing that, there are not many copycats for this type of stuff."

Alderman Dawn Morgan discussed the graffiti incidents at a recent meeting of the Kernersville Board of Aldermen. "I am concerned about the increased graffiti," Morgan said. "I don't think we should tolerate it."

Morgan asked town officials to check with other communities to see if there are ways to prevent graffiti.

"As it stands now, I think the police department is urging everyone to be on the lookout and report anything suspicious," Town Manager Randy McCaslin said.

The town is researching the ways that other communities deal with graffiti. McCaslin declined to predict whether the aldermen would want to take a more aggressive approach to stopping graffiti.

"It's not a major problem until it happens on your property," he said. "We will see where the board wants to take it. If people will continue to watch out, they will see this happening and we can catch the individuals, and that may take care of the problem."

Stockton said that marking buildings with graffiti is a misdemeanor and that anyone convicted probably would be punished with performing community service.

Justin Andren, the owner of Sun Splash Tan, said he discovered the graffiti on Oct. 1, the day he took over the business from the previous owner.

"I have no idea what it says or means," Andren said.

He said that the graffiti would be removed from the building.

Although police will watch for graffiti artists, Stockton said that residents should be the "eyes and ears of the police department" and help keep watch as well.