Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
VANDALS have left Albury’s two major car parks smeared in graffiti tags, prompting the mayor to promise immediate action to tackle “these mindless and senseless acts”.
They struck at the Volt Lane and Wilson Street car parks on Tuesday — with the tags suggesting the same people were responsible.
There were about 50 tags at the Wilson Street car park yesterday and dozens at Volt Lane.
Police investigating said they had a fair idea of who was responsible for the Volt Lane incident.
Albury mayor Kevin Mack said while the council was revising its graffiti strategy, he wanted changes now.
“I’m not happy about it,” he said.
“We’re reviewing our strategy but we also need to do something now.
“It’s a mindless and senseless act.”
The policy involves speaking at schools about the cost of graffiti.
The council offered a $2000 reward for information that led to the conviction of taggers.
It also provides free removal kits and its staff record all tags on council property.
“We remove graffiti on council property within 48 hours and encourage businesses to do the same,” Cr Mack said.
“Research tells us the longer graffiti stays, the more people believe it’s OK — people need to be more vigilant about their behaviour and their movements.
“That’s a discussion we need to have with police and with stakeholders.
“We want to encourage the community to step it up.
“Graffiti has become worse in the past six months and we need to say ‘no’ and do something about it.”
Police took pictures of the tags at Wilson Street yesterday.
Albury police Inspector Anthony Moodie said police had identified a Volt Lane suspect and were investigating possible links between the two incidents, an unfortunate build-up to Graffiti Removal Day on October 26.