OAKLEY — Graffiti is a form of vandalism and is a crime, one that hurts property values and deters business. It can act as a magnet for crimes of other forms and make an area feel unsafe.

Graffiti gives the impression that a city doesn’t care and that’s certainly not the case in Oakley.

Oakley has been luckier than many cities and hasn’t had much of a graffiti problem, mainly because the city has acted quickly to have it removed. Even so, $25,000 was spent in the past year to clean it up.

In the last month warmer weather and longer days have acted as a catalyst, bringing an increase in the number of instances of graffiti and resulting in a longer time for the city to remove it.

So, city officials have turned to residents, asking them to report graffiti sightings and, whenever possible, those responsible for them. And, as an added incentive, they have instituted the Graffiti Rewards Program hoping to control the upsurge in graffiti.

“We encourage residents to report graffiti ASAP,” said Nancy Marquez-Suarez, human resources manager and assistant to the city manager. “The sooner we are aware or alerted, the more likely we can identify the suspect and recover damages.”

The recent spike began the weekend of June 3, coinciding with summer break and boredom for those without activities to fill their days. Almost 30 incidents were noted on that weekend, scattered across the community with quite a few examples on utility boxes.

“The graffiti was very similar, so it may very well have been the same person ‘tagging’ as they made their way around the city,” Marquez-Suarez said. “Other instances are usually single, isolated incidents at parks for example that together quickly add up.”

The city has been successful in identifying persons responsible in many instances and on one occasion, thanks to a resident calling it in, police were able to catch someone in the act.

The consequences are serious as perpetrators must pay the full cost of removing the graffiti as well as pay for the administrative costs of the process.

Marquez-Suarez believes that in many cases graffiti results from individuals looking for something to do and not realizing the potential consequences of their actions and the loss to the community.

The city’s bottom line, though, is that graffiti sends the wrong message, devaluing property, inviting crime, and giving the impression that the community is an unsafe and undesirable place to live and to do business.

As such, residents are urged to report graffiti to code enforcement and if they observe an act in progress, call the Police Department, providing the location, description of the suspect(s) and their vehicle.

Clear evidence, in the form of a video or photo, an admission of guilt or an actual conviction would make the person reporting the incident eligible for the $300 reward under the Graffiti Rewards Program.

“This program is just one example by which an effective community partnership helps preserve the city as one we can all be proud of,” she said. “Prompt removal can be a deterrent to the “tagger” to repeat vandalism at that location. It sends the message that their work will not be seen, but rather taken down promptly, so go elsewhere.”

Marquez-Suarez suggests that residents and businesses can help deter graffiti on their property by installing security lighting and cameras, with signs indicating that there are cameras. Another idea is planting vines or other vegetation, if possible, that covers blank walls and building surfaces.

Graffiti is a problem all communities face. It’s rarely seen in Oakley because the city works to get it removed quickly.

“When the volume is high, as it was recently, it takes more time to remove,” she said. “The quicker it’s gone, the better, and we appreciate residents helping to report it and to remove it quickly when it’s on their property.”

Graffiti Rewards Program: To report graffiti in progress call Oakley police, 925-625-8060.Graffiti reports can be called into the code enforcement department, 925-625-7031, or reported via Oakley’s on-demand app, at http://www.ci.oakley.ca.us/ondemand-request-form/.

For more information on the Graffiti Rewards Program, visit bit.ly/2teu81b.