Helping to clean up vandalism

Respect for property, both public and private, is taught to our citizens from the day they are born. In Camarillo, some apparently never got the message.

For months, the Sheriff's Blotter has reported numerous instances involving acts of vandalism that have cost both the city and its citizens a small fortune in cleanup costs.

Schools and parks are popular targets for area vandals. Each year the frustration over these acts of vandalism continues to mount. Nobody likes their community property defaced.

To help combat this growing problem, the city of Camarillo and its police department have agreed to redistribute existing resources to create a full-time graffiti investigator position staffed by Dep. Juan Cordova.

Cordova's sole responsibility is to investigate and track graffiti-related crime. He works closely with patrol personnel, school resource officers, outside police agencies, and members of the community to identify the culprits.

Vandalism is an interesting phenomenon because the crime is senseless, that is to say, nothing is ever gained. Researchers say vandals are bored, enjoy taking risks, or feel the need to live up to peer pressure. Most often the culprit is a teenage male with a beer in his hand, a chip on his shoulder and a penchant for physical violence. It's no secret that "tagging" has become a way for gangs to identify their turf.

Recent studies have shown that one of the most effective methods of preventing graffiti is to remove the marks as soon as possible. Removing graffiti is a collective effort. Cordova has established lines of communication and worked closely with the city, patrol deputies and volunteers to locate and remove new graffiti from publicly owned premises as fast as possible.

If you or a friend knows who might have committed any acts of vandalism, please call Cordova at (805) 3834800. Your identity will be kept confidential.