POLICE have praised a vigilant community for its role in turning in alleged graffiti vandals during a recent two-week sting.
Community Newspaper Group helped with phase two of Operation Eraser, publishing surveillance photographs of 16 people whom police wanted to identify.
Newspaper readers then did their part by identifying 12 of the 16. As a result, 10 were charged with various graffiti offences.
Overall, police made 30 arrests, issued 50 summonses related to graffiti and laid a total of 589 charges during the two-week operation last month.
Detective Senior Constable Dean Lampard, who led Operation Eraser, said police were very happy with the outcome.
Community Newspaper Group’s network of local newspapers splashed the surveillance images on the front pages of their July 5 editions to ensure maximum exposure across the wider metropolitan area.
Graffiti offenders are known to not restrict their crimes to a local area, and police wanted everyone’s help to identify people who tag or damage buses, trains and buildings.
Deputy Commissioner Stephen Brown described graffiti as one of the most visible and confronting of all crimes and anti-social problems that occur in all communities.
“Graffiti touches multiple victims and affects everyone in the community who sees it,” he said.
Planning is under way for a third phase of Operation Eraser later this year.
People who have information on graffiti offenders may be eligible for a reward.
Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or, to report graffiti damage, visit goodbyegraffiti.wa.gov.au, or call 1800 442 255.