• Graffiti is illegal, ugly and expensive to remove. 
• The Polk  County Sheriff's office is committed to ridding our county of graffiti – but we need your help to do it.  
• Graffiti is a crime that affects us all.
• It can lower property values, make people feel unsafe, reduce business patronage and encourage other types of crime. Conversely, keeping business premises graffiti-free helps to reinforce a professional image with customers, while keeping our neighbourhoods graffiti-free reinforces pride in our county and helps to maintain feelings of safety and wellbeing.
• Graffiti vandals have no respect for private or community property and no regard for the negative impacts of their actions.
• Their aim is to impress their peers and strengthen their reputations by putting their graffiti tags in as many places as  possible.  Graffiti that is left intact attracts more graffiti – and the longer it remains, the greater the gratification for perpetrators. It also suggests a community that does not care or is unable to deal with the problem.
• How Does Graffiti Hurt?
• Property Value - According to the National Association of Realtors, properties located in neighborhoods where there is graffiti vandalism lose 15% of their value.
• Safety - Patrons of buildings, parks, or public facilities where graffiti vandalism has occurred may feel that if graffiti is tolerated, then more serious crimes, such as theft and assault, may also go unchallenged.
• Clean-Up Cost - According to the U.S. Department of Justice, “an estimated $12 billion a year is spent cleaning up graffiti in the United States.” Additionally, a Public Technology Inc. 2002 survey of communities found that “ Los Angeles County spends about $55 million per year on graffiti removal.”

How you can Help

You can help us stay on top of graffiti and vandalism by taking measures to prevent it and if it does occur, by making sure it is cleaned as quickly as possible.