Combatting Vandalism

Started by AlexL1 • 7 replies • 1575 views

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AlexL1 (Florida)
Posts: 305

Posted:

What are effective ways of combatting vandalism in the condo complex, ie. breaking of lamps, car winow broken. It appears as if it is something that is just starting and has to be dealt with immediately.

DebraV (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 8

Posted:

What about starting a Crime Watch or Neighborhood Watch program?
we have found them to be effective.

BrianB (California)
Posts: 2,820

Posted:

i have found that if you catch the little bugger doing it, castration tends to send a personal and community wide message that you are serious.

Or, you can catch the little buggers, and prosecute them and their parents, if they are minors. that also sends a message, albeit a little less effectively.

JosephW (Michigan)
Posts: 882

Posted:

A number of associations, (as well as municipalities and commercial buildings) are using web/security cams to monitor problem areas. Additional lighting can sometimes help if it doesn't cause problems for owners. Ask the local police to add the area to their patrol schedule. If you go to Google and type in "homeowner association vandalism", you will see that this is a rapidly growing problem. You might also se what some of the other associations are doing.

Joe

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KM1 (FL)
Posts: 62

Posted:

AlexL,

We have had a similar problems with graphiti and bb guns recently in our townhome community. Since we are considered private, we did not get much support from the police. We considered varying degrees of security guard patrol, preferrably foot patrol during evening hours, particularly on Friday and Saturdays when our issues would tend to occur.

We have also considered mounting those fake security cameras with the flashing red lights and signs to try and scare off non-resident vandals! A much cheaper alternative, although I'm not sure if TRUE vandals can tell they are fakes?! It's a thought!

KM

KarenS11 (Florida)
Posts: 148

Posted:

KM1- We have one of those fake cameras in our guest parking and a car was stolen and used in some really violent crime. The sheriff's office requested a copy of the tape....so it does fool some of them. Not sure if the bad guys didn't care or knew that it was phony.

Even if you do catch them in the act, in my experience, very little will be done to them in the court system. Even if they admit to it.

In the past, I have had luck befriending the perp when I knew it was him, but he didn't know that I knew. They are bored, unsupervised kids whose parents, for the most part, could care less. Engaging them and making them feel a sense of the positive role that they play in their community is always the best way.

I also have been know to go into crazy mama role- catch them by surprise, camera in hand and scream expletives at them repeatedly as I chase them down the street taking pictures as fast as I can. Then I e-mail the best pix to a network of folks around our area. This was very effective with the young man having sex in his car in our guest parking lot, as well.

BrianB (California)
Posts: 2,820

Posted:

just make sure the young man (or his partner) are not underage, or you will be on the sex offender list as a pedophile for watching, taping, or distributing images...

BradP (Kansas)
Posts: 2,640

Posted:

Alex:

Short of posting an armored guard 24/7 there isn't just one full proof way. Criminals tend to flock to easy targets, so it sounds like you need to make your condo complex a little less comfy for them. This can be accomplished with several things:

1. Better Lighting
2. Surveilance cameras to watch high crime areas, nowadays you can get a good quality camera for not a lot of money.
3. if you do put up cameras, even if you don't, post signage that says this area is under video surveillance.
4. Work to form a neighborhood watch, post signage to that effect
5. Work with your local police to do drive throughs if possible
6. If funds allow hire a security officer for the probable hours of crime.

If you make it uncomfortable for criminals to be there they will probably find another place to vandalize.

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