‘It’s not just a property crime.’ 21 busted for graffiti in Hanover Township
Those arrested are being charged with criminal mischief and trespassing.
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Hanover Township police have announced that they’ve busted 21 people for leaving graffiti on buildings, bridges, overpasses and a water tower over the last two years.
Those arrested are being charged with criminal mischief and trespassing. Police say that 10 are juveniles and 11 are adults.
Police say that the graffiti accounted for $500,000 worth of property damage.
The charges mean that the victims of the graffiti can now try and recover the cost of cleanup from those who left the damage.
Police say they have found that those arrested for graffiti do it for the adrenaline rush and to gain attention for their tags on social media posts.
Hanover police have cracked down on the practice because it’s often linked with other crimes.
“We’ve also found over the years that there’s a lot of criminal activity that ties into graffiti. It’s not just a property crime. We’ve had a lot of instances related to burglaries, arsons, narcotics, street-level violence, weapons and things of that nature,” said Sgt. Eric Prach.
Police are hoping these arrests will keep those who are into graffiti from coming back to Hanover to attempt any more tagging.
