Graffiti News

DOZENS of city centre homes and shops were plastered in green, pink and silver paint after “mindless” graffiti vandals went on a one-night scrawling spree.

The offenders, whose handiwork has caused thousands of pounds of damage across York, are now wanted by police after being caught on CCTV cameras by The Press.

More than 40 city centre properties were targeted during the attack in the early hours of Wednesday.

North Yorkshire Police said it was one of the worst cases they had seen in York.

A spokesman for the force said: “The length of Aldwark and Walmgate is totally obliterated with graffiti. Some of it is spray painted, some of it is pen. There has been a hell of a lot of damage and it’s going to take at least two days for us to get photos and take down all the crime reports.”

CCTV footage from cameras rigged up at The Press offices in Walmgate captured the attack on the furniture shop, G A White, just before 3.40am. We have now handed this recording over to the police to help with their investigation.The police spokesman said: “This is really helpful and we would like to hear from anybody else who witnessed the incidents or who also has CCTV footage.

“We believe the incidents in Aldwark and Walmgate are linked. We have identified two different graffiti tags – “Clemie” and “Tacrew” – and these appear in both streets.”One of the worst hit properties was Bowes Morrell House, in Walmgate – a timber-framed 14th century grade two star listed building.

Richard Brown, property manager for York Conservation Trust, said he was “disgusted” by what had happened.

He said: “We’re doing our best to conserve these buildings and then these mindless idiots come along and you can’t do anything about it because we can’t catch them.”

The front of the Age Concern shop in Walmgate was also completely defaced by the vandals, at a cost of more than £300 to the charity. Manager Terry Cogan said: “We’ve had small bits of graffiti in the past, but this is on a whole new scale. It’s horrendous. We’re a charity for goodness sake, and redoing the paintwork is going to take money away from the vulnerable people that need it. The people that did this have no social responsibility. They are idiots. I just hope that they are caught and dealt with appropriately.”

Coun Dave Taylor, who represents the Green Party in City of York Council, urged anybody with any information about the incident to get in touch with the police.

He said: “I hope they catch these people and chain them to it until they clean it off.”

City of York Council’s director of neighbourhood services, Terry Collins, said vandalism of this nature would not be tolerated. He said: “We will be monitoring our existing CCTV cameras to see if we can catch the perpetrators and we intend to use covert cameras in the future.”

A council spokesperson said a specialised team of cleaners might be able to offer some residents help in removing the graffiti tags.

If you have any information, phone North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060 247.

Counting the cost of tag’ attacks
HORRIFIED residents are counting the cost after waking up to find their properties hit by one of the worst graffiti attacks seen in York.

One home-owner whose garage was completely covered in graffiti, said Wednesday night’s vandalism was the last straw.

The Aldwark resident, who wished not to be named, said: “This is the worst it’s ever been. We’ve been here 25 years, but I think it’s time to sell up and move on. If this is York, then I don’t want any more of it. I call it Beirut now.”

Neighbourhood watch coordinator, Rod Hodgson, said it was the first time the whole street had been targeted.

He said: “We’re talking about garage doors, windows, shutters – all having been tagged. We are extremely annoyed. The council do a good job of coming down to remove it from time to time but this is such a big job.”

Another resident who lives at Oliver Sheldon House – a Georgian property in Aldwark restored by York Civic Trust – said it was a real shame.

He did not wish to be named, but said: “These people are mindless. They wouldn’t like it if someone did it to their homes, so why do it to others?

“I’m not even going to bother cleaning it up because I know it will just happen again.”

Debbie Sykes, who works at Walmgate Newsagents and Grocers, said businesses in Walmgate would start to suffer if the graffiti vandals struck again.

She said: “We’re very angry. It won’t come off and we’re going to have to get it repainted, which of course costs money. If it happens again, it will start to detract business from the street because nobody will want to come down here.”

Meanwhile, Coun Brian Watson, who represents the Guildhall ward, raised concerns that York’s reputation as a beautiful city would be ruined.

He said: “The individuals that are doing it are mindless and I don’t know what pleasure they get from it – it’s not as if it’s artistic.

“It’s going to cost residents and shops money to get it off and it doesn’t create a good impression for tourists. Most people are trying really hard to keep York looking nice, but these people have just come through and spoiled it.”