RED HANDED: Two teenagers graffiti the side of a Creswick Road building yesterday. Photo: Lachlan Bence.
TWO teenage vandals were caught in the act yesterday, tagging the side of a Creswick Road building.
Just before 12pm yesterday, the pair used spray cans to deface fences around the property with bright pink graffiti – the latest sign of the city’s growing struggle to stop mindless vandalism.
Following an increase in Ballarat’s crime rate, Victoria Police last week announced that they would relaunch their anti-graffiti operation, Centaur.
A police spokesperson said officers attended the scene but were unable to locate the suspects.
City of Ballarat councillor and chairperson of the city’s public art advisory committee Des Hudson said graffiti and other vandalism cost the city more than $250,000 in clean up costs each year.
“It is a significant amount of damage and provides a real challenge in getting the message through to young and old that if you wouldn’t do this stuff to your own house, don’t do it in to other buildings,” he said.
“If members of the community do see people involved with graffiti, take the step of calling police.”
Cr Hudson said parents and schools had a role in helping change attitudes towards vandalism and tagging.
“We do need to be able to engage with all levels of the community and have a sense of shared pride in our city and property,” he said.
Two weeks ago, two 1920s train carriages brought to Ballarat for Heritage Weekend celebrations were defaced by vandals.
Anyone with information can contact Ballarat police on 5336 6000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
NOTE:The Courier is not identifying these teens as they are involved in an ongoing police investigation.