Graffiti vandalism is on the rise in Australia. In between the years of 2001 and 2008, the number of graffiti incidents doubled. The Australian government and concerned citizens are pushing for greater awareness of the problem, as evidenced in the recent "Keep Australia Beautiful" campaign. They are working toward reducing incidents as well as understanding why people participate in this type of crime.
Precious government funds are being diverted from other areas in order to fight this scourge in public areas. Business and property owners are being hit in the wallet too – everyone agrees that preventing graffiti vandalism is more efficient and less costly than cleaning it up afterwards.
The success of security
The problem is, police can't be everywhere at once, and most private citizens and small business owners can't afford to hire security staff to deter the problem. So, what to do? It is good to catch offenders, preventing them from becoming re-offenders, but the best solution is preventing the act altogether. Using a security camera is one of the least expensive methods of preventing and deterring this crime.
Closed–circuit television (CCTV) is a system of security cameras which transmit to private receivers, known as DVRs (digital video recorders). Any number of security cameras can be utilised to observe graffiti vandalism hotspots. The data may be viewed from the camera as a live feed in real time, or recorded in the DVR for viewing later.
Often, a security camera in plain view is enough to deter a would-be vandal from acting in the first place. And if not, the data recorded during a crime is frequently used to identify and charge a criminal that doesn’t seem to be discouraged by security cameras.
What areas are at risk of being vandalised?
There are three major areas that are affected by this problem: public and school buildings; corporations and businesses; and our homes and private properties. Unfortunately, statistics indicate that once an area is targeted by vandals, it's more likely to be targeted again and again. An effective way to combat this is to install and utilise a CCTV system, which can help identify potential problem spots and keep them from being hit repeatedly.
Anyone who owns or manages a property can reap other benefits from installing a security camera, other than just reducing incidents of graffiti vandalism.
Common vandalism hotspots
Government offices and public buildings (i.e. schools, hospitals and rail stations)
Schools are the most frequently targeted buildings by graffiti vandals. Other commonly-targeted public structures include statues, monuments, overpasses and underpasses, and utility boxes.
Installing CCTV systems in and around these areas may do more than just reduce graffiti. Security cameras may record other types of crimes in progress and give police valuable leads to solving them. Cameras in and around schools can also reduce the occurrence of fights and bullying, and generally help to keep students and staff safe.
Corporations or businesses
These are the second most frequently targeted structures. Business owners in areas where graffiti vandalism is rampant can install a CCTV security camera system to stop graffiti and also solve other types of business crime. CCTV can also help to reduce internal theft and helps to keep employees and customers safe.
Private property and homeowners
Occupied private homes are less frequently targeted than other structures. However, other things on private properties, such as walls fences, may be vandalised. This is because they are usually located away from the occupied home and are thus more secluded and vulnerable.
By contrast, unoccupied homes are understandably a magnet for graffiti vandalism. These structures are often chronically targeted and may become problematic to manage without some type of deterrent.
A security camera system is such a deterrent, whether a property is occupied or not. It discourages not only vandalism but also theft, breaking and entering, unlawful occupation, and trespassing. Additionally, it protects occupants (if any) from crimes like home invasions and burglaries.
Why you need to consider CCTV
Criminals do not like to be watched. Statistics bear out the theory that a security camera (or group of security cameras) decreases the likelihood that a building, structure or area will be targeted with graffiti, and it may be the only way to prevent a vulnerable structure from becoming a chronic target.
