I Caught Kids Spraying Graffiti Last Night

[Yaxpac]

So last night around 8pm I heard people walking on my roof.  I live on the 3rd floor of a 3 floor building on 33st b/w 30th ave and 31st ave.  There has been a lot of graffiti going on lately and it bothers me.  Someone even sprayed F&*^ Y#@ on the outside of the roof door of my building.  It has been a growing problem. 

Well last night I did something that I now regret.  I confronted these trespassing criminals.  I listened through the door for a moment and heard them talking.  Then I heard that sound of someone shaking a can of spray paint.  This set me off fuming and I barged out there and found these kids (I would guess 18-22) sitting on my roof smoking pot with the spray can sitting right there.  I asked them what they were doing there and if that was a can of spray paint.  They said yes and I inquired if they were the punks that have been "tagging" my building and the whole block.  They did not deny anything.  I told them to leave immediately and that I was calling the cops.  I told them that I know what they look like, gave them a slow once over and proceeded to call the police. 

I have to commend the police both on the phone and in person.  They tooked a detailed account and were extremely curtious.  About 10 cops showed up to my place  , including 3 plain-clothed officers.  I provided very detailed descriptions of these criminals and the police requested that I take pictures of the area that was defaced during daylight hours.  I plan on doing that today and emailing them to the officer with whom I filed the report. 

My only regret is that I should not have confronted these kids.  Who knows what weapons they might have had.  I also wish that I just called the cops immediately.  There would have been a better chance of catching these kids if I did that.  Based on my description, one of the perps fit a similar description to someone who was arrested recently.   

[Chris]

I had an experience on the N going into Manhattan early/evening/late afternoon on the 30th Ave. stop not all tha tlong ago.  I got into the last car and no one was in there, but I smelled the scent of paint.   This young guy -- looking like the cat who just ate the canary -- was getting off the train as I was getting on.    I didn't say anything to him, but was kind of pissed that the subway car stunk of paint.   Coincidentally, the very next day I bumped into the same clown on the platform again and was talking with some people about spray painting.

[angastoria]

did the cops show up in time to get them?

[Yaxpac]

the cops showed up in about 5-10 minutes.  they were long gone by then.  at the very least I think I put enough fear into these punks that they will not return any time soon...at least to my building. 

[merm]

I'd have just called the cops first and then waited for them to arrive. But that's awesome you had the courage to confront. I just want those kids in jail.

[PJ]

How is it so easy for them to get into the building, if these idiots can, then anyway can just come in, that not right, complain to the landlord to stiffin up building security, put up a dummy cam to scare em or better door locks in front and on the roof,

and i would of confronted them too, you did the right thing imo, people need to stand up and not just sit back and take it

Good Job 

[Yaxpac]

I am a bit conflicted with my reaction.  I feel that I should have just called the cops and not gotten involved.  However, I could not just stand there listening to them while they were defacing the building that i live in.

I am not a big person.  i stand a whopping 5'7" and about 155lbs.  These kids were all at least my size or larger.  I am not sure where I got the cajones to stand up to these punks, but I gave them a good piece of my mind and I am pretty sure that they will not return. 

I almost want to post their description so people could keep their eyes out for these guys, but I do not think that would be the proper thing to do. 

[Yaxpac]

How is it so easy for them to get into the building, if these idiots can, then anyway can just come in, that not right, complain to the landlord to stiffin up building security, put up a dummy cam to scare em or better door locks in front and on the roof,

and i would of confronted them too, you did the right thing imo, people need to stand up and not just sit back and take it

Good Job 

I have no idea how they got in.  The door to my roof was locked and it only locks from the inside.  They did not get there via my building.  However, the rooftops are all connected like in the godfather II so it is possible they entered via another building. 

What really burns is that they sat there and had a smoke while the paint dried.  It was almost daylight.

[PJ]

by any chance do you know what they were writting, besides the FU ??

[Yaxpac]

no, it was illegible.  i am going to take pictured before it gets dark tonight.  I will send them to you if you would like. 

[PJ]

yes please, im after the person who did graph on my car a few months ago, im sure they are still around, they wrote something on my hood, i guess they seen me around and are just a bunch of haters,

[mcdirk]

I hope they catch them and they throw the book at them.  Enough with the graffiti.  They need to be doing something with their lives, not defacing private or public property.

[Jtrane]

I hope they catch them and they throw the book at them.  Enough with the graffiti.  They need to be doing something with their lives, not defacing private or public property.

Maybe they think they can get jobs with Marc Ecko.

[mrferrisbueler]

I'd have just called the cops first and then waited for them to arrive. But that's awesome you had the courage to confront. I just want those kids in jail.

I would have gone up there with my Tippmann (paintball gun) and blasted those punks.

[nicsop]

With all this graffiti someone should start a group for these kids.  I've talked to a few of them on 2 different occasions and asked them straight out, "Why do you graffiti?"  Some of them had the attitude of "Because I can" and others had the attitude of "I want to fit in" and others considered it "Art".  I then proceeded to tell them that they should buy huge pieces of canvasses at an art supply store and graffiti the canvas instead.  The idea wasn't totally cool in their book but they definitely responded to me differently because I wasn't being accusatory, instead I was being inquisitive as to why.

With all the crime in the neighborhood lately ie: Rape, I think there are worse things to be concerned with.  I hate the graffiti just as much as the next person, I just wish society would be more open to helping these kids than just throwing them in the slammer.  Believe it or not, they still are impressionable.

(as for the other time, broad daylight, I told the kid to get lost and if I see him again, I'll call the cops).  Mez, his tag name, better watch out!).