Graffiti is the writing or drawing of words, symbols, pictures etc that are scratched, painted, or sprayed on walls or other surfaces on another's property such as walls, fences, buildings etc.

Graffiti is not a harmless crime.  Graffiti costs each of us.  Graffiti lowers property values.  Businesses targeted by graffiti realize reduced patronage.  Graffiti causes property insurance rates to rise.  In addition to these tangible costs, graffiti makes a neighborhood and a community appear unsafe and undesirable.  Casper wants to be a graffiti-free community.  We need your help.

Most graffiti occurs in the late evening and early morning hours, under cover of darkness.  Graffiti vandals cannot be caught and prosecuted if no one reports them.  If you see graffiti related activity or other suspicious behavior in your neighborhood, call the Casper Police Department at 235-8278.

    Spotting Suspicious Activity

Suspicious activity occurs when a person's conduct or action does NOT FIT the norm of your neighborhood.  It is an event that is out of place and should not be happening in your neighborhood under normal circumstances.

Example:  It is after curfew and there are 2 juveniles dressed in dark clothing loitering in an alley behind your home.  Curfew hours are between 11p.m to 6a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 12 a.m. to 6a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Example:  You are passing a shopping center after business hours; you notice a group of juveniles hanging out by a retaining wall.  It is not well lit.  Graffiti vandals often strike large building surfaces & retaining walls that are not well lit.

Your interpretation that an activity is suspicious is IN AND OF ITSELF, ENOUGH FOR YOU TO CALL THE POLICE.  Call 235-8278.

    Graffiti Prevention

Make sure your lights are working or improve lighting around a property to promote visibility and deter graffiti vandalism.

Increase the visibility around your property, if you can see suspicious activity you can deter it.  Put your lights in the correct places to light up the desired area.

Plant shrubs, thorny patches, and vines to restrict access to walls, fences, sheds, or other graffiti targets.

Use graffiti resistant materials or coatings so that targeted areas can easily be removed.  Maintain fences and buildings.  This displays a sense of caring and ownership and may discourage graffiti.