Affected by Graffiti? What to Do if You Find Graffiti on Your Property
It has often been said that graffiti is a victimless crime; after all, it’s not like anyone was directly hurt from it, right? Unfortunately, this misconception couldn’t be further from the truth. On average, this problem costs Americans an average of $12 billion per year. Frankly, that’s simply not acceptable. Graffiti is a scourge, and it is slowly signaling the decline of many urban areas. Here in Asheville, graffiti has steadily been on the rise, and it’s up to us as a community to keep this growing problem at bay. If left unchecked, graffiti can lead to further crime in an area, decreased property values, and wasted tax dollars. If you happen to spot graffiti on your property, here’s what you need to do.
Give us a call.
It’s understandable to be upset if you find graffiti on your property. After all, your personal space has been violated by a thoughtless and potentially dangerous stranger. If you find graffiti on your property, you need to give us a call right away. We will send someone out within 24 hours to remove it. Fortunately, there’s some good news to be had here. According to research studies, if the graffiti is removed within 48 hours, the perpetrators typically won’t return.
Notify the police.
After you contact us, you then need to call the police. Graffiti is absolutely a crime and should be treated as such. In fact, in some cases, it may be regarded as a felony offense. It’s also important to note that graffiti isn’t a type of artistic expression, either. Many people seem to mistake “graffiti” with “street art,” but the two are vastly different. Street art is condoned by the city (and approved in certain parts of town!), but graffiti is generally a type of “tagging,” typically by gang members or other criminals.
Contact your insurance company.
Once you’ve made plans to have it removed and you’ve alerted the police, you then need to take pictures of the graffiti. In many cases, graffiti is considered property damage and will most likely covered by your insurance policy. You need to carefully document all aspects of the graffiti with your camera so you can have a solid case for your insurance company. These pictures will help demonstrate the extent of the damage to them, making it so that you don’t have to worry about paying for its removal.
Nobody likes finding graffiti on their property. If you’ve been a victim of graffiti, then it’s vital that you have it removed immediately. This is important not only for your own sake, but for the overall wellbeing of your community, as well. If you’ve found graffiti on your property, please contact us today. We are more than happy to come out and assess the damage, give you a free estimate, and remove it for you right away!