gang damage

How do you handle gang damage, and how quickly? A police report was made on the paint.

We have a neighborhood park with a wood sign, two nice picnic tables on a concrete pad, a grill, and a play area for little kids--sandbox, slide/climbing thingy. Gang related grafitti painted on the sign a few days ago and on the pad has not yet been covered over. Today there are gouges in the rims of the tables.

I think you need to remove or paint over the grafitti as soon as possible (after taking photos, hand having the police and your insurance company examine it). Leaving it there will attract more grafitti.

It's a shame that such destruction of other people's property has become so common. You may have to consider fencing the area or even eliminating some of the features.

Yep, just be sure you clear it with the ACC first! (insert wink smiley here)

Seriously, a security system may be necessary but you may want to have a pro install it and include a video tape machine. You can give the tape to the police.

I don't think an HOA is going to have much luck controlling gangs, the police are having a difficult enough time with it. Making the area less attractive to gangs and gang members may be your best bet.

I had a similar issue when I was President of an HOA in a townhome community in Colorado Springs. This is a tough problem.

1. You MUST involve the police. Take photos of everything and file reports. Don't remove or alter anything until the officer working on your case clears you to do so.

2. Don't count on your community for help. While you may have a few allies, most homeowners will simply be too afraid to even publicly complain about graffiti or other vandalism. I wound up as the only public champion of the cause and was in constant fear of being assaulted. Young hoodlums tend to watch a lot of television and have no understanding of the long term implications of severe bodily injury or jail and will think little of stabbing someone. I'm in good physical shape, but am not willing to smash my living room fist-fighting with someone who fights daily as a way of life.

I took courses in combat pistol shooting and obtained a concealed carry permit. I was able to successfully avoid every violent confrontation without ever having to draw, except one. Fortunately that too didn't require me firing, but did prevent a hoodlum from pushing his way through my front door and assaulting me in my own living room.

3. Again, keep the police involved. They were helpful in advising me to get a restraining order against the above mentioned hoodlum.

4. The surveillance cameras are a good idea, if you can afford them. A feeble system can be constructed using www.x10.com, but better systems are available from smarthome.com and even Sam's club. I have some of these devices myself, but be sure to check with local laws. For example, in Colorado it is unlawful to record a conversation that you are not personally participating in. Therefore, these surveillance cameras can't record sound.