A New Breed of Vandal Trashes Sherman Oaks

There is a new vandal trashing Sherman Oaks. This picture shows their latest handy work. Without sounding too old fashioned let me be frank. If you or your parents or friends own property or pay taxes in Los Angeles each tag costs hundreds of dollars for a city crew to remove.

I have seen half a dozen similar tags without making an effort to find them.Take a long look at the work itself. It reveals a few things about the person behind this work that are not apparent at first. This is not gang inspired but rather a stencil. The edges and the consistency give its creator away as a white, middleclass, high school or college educated, someone out to make a name for him or herself.

It is completely possible that this was created by a woman.This kind of stencil tag is showing up more frequently with wannabes street artists reproduce their message on walls and buildings throughout the valley. However, just like gang graffiti this stuff is traceable back to the school or shop where it was produced. Someone knows who is doing this and the person vandalizing our streets needs to be stopped.

By the way, there is a $1,000 reward for anyone who turns in graffiti vandals.The Sherman Oaks Business Improvement District, Chamber of Commerce and Neighborhood Council should take action to remove this blight immediately.The longer it persists the greater the likelihood of attracting more copycatvandalism.Stopping vandalism it is everyone’s responsibility.