A New Type of Graffiti In Town

Many Crescenta Valley residents may have already seen the new trend in graffiti called “slap tagging” as they pulled up to a stop sign or walked past one of the ubiquitous metal utility boxes. Various designs on small adhesive stickers have been slapped onto the public equipment.

“I have definitely seen an increase,” said Deputy Scott Shinagawa, school resource officer [SRO] for Crescenta Valley High School.

Shinagawa has seen this type of graffiti not only at the school but around the community. La Cañada has also seen an increase in this type of graffiti, as well as the more traditional. Shinagawa and Deputy Todd Sams, SRO at LCHS are working together to document all graffiti in the area.

“Sams and I have started doing more research [into the area’s graffiti] and are tracking it,” Shinagawa said. “It is obvious, just driving through the neighborhood, that [graffiti] is on the rise.”

Shinagawa said that within a few blocks several stop signs were slap tagged. While traditional graffiti can still be seen around the Crescenta Valley area, slap tagging is becoming more prevalent.

“We were getting a lot of spray painting and we were documenting it all, but now we see a [slight] decrease now that the slap tagging thing has started,” Shinagawa said.

“The issue that I have is when I start seeing the same tag,” Sams said. “That is why we are working together on it. We both know what we are facing and that in some cases it is not limited to just one area. We are seeing recurring [styles of sticker] in La Crescenta, Montrose and CVHS and they are coming over to La Cañada.”

Shinagawa and Sams remind people that graffiti is a crime and if anyone has information or sees someone tagging, they should contact the sheriff’s station.

“I think the problem is that with all different types of graffiti, people don’t see it as a real problem,” Shinagawa said. “That is until it ends up on their property or somewhere you know [like a restaurant or store].”

Shinagawa said that over the past 20 years, law enforcement has considered graffiti a serious crime.

Although this form of tagging seems less like the traditional graffiti, it is still considered vandalism by law enforcement agencies. Anyone found slap tagging will be prosecuted under the graffiti laws and are responsible for restitution to the property owner. Some of the adhesive tags are not easily removed and in addition to being scraped off, the structure on which the tag was adhered may need to be repaired or repainted. The labor and equipment costs fall onto the one who is found guilty of graffiti; in the case of juveniles, they share that financial burden with their parent or guardian.

The deputies remind the public that anyone who has been a victim of graffiti or has witnessed this form of vandalism should call the CV Sheriff’s Station at 248-3464.