(February 6, 2006) -- LBPD arrested two groups of alleged graffiti vandals on February 4th.
The two busts took place in the same area of NW LB...and both involved adults, not juveniles.
LBPD Public Information Officer Juan Gomez tells LBReport.com that North Division LBPD cops set the trap by using about twenty gallons of paint to cover-over graffiti at the back of a commercial building in the 2100 block of Susana Rd (west of 710 freeway, just south of Del Amo Blvd.).
An LBPD task force quietly deployed in the area after midnight using plainclothes officers, cops on quads (four wheel mobile devices) and in unmarked police cars.
At about 1:35 a.m. on Saturday February 4th, officers observed a black Acura driving slowly on Susana Rd.; the car stopped and parked...and officers then observed the occupants were no longer in the vehicle. Police spotted the subjects; a foot pursuit ensued...and LBPD apprehended all four subjects allegedly in possession of spray cans and other instruments commonly used for graffiti purposes.
The four suspects are men in their early 20s (three from Downey, one from Gardena).
About nine and a half hours later at about 11:00 p.m. on Feb. 4 -- in the same general location -- an LBPD officer spotted three subjects allegedly in the process of marking the area with graffiti. When the suspects ran, officers converged on the area in a combined operation with LBPD's helicopter unit and apprehended all three of them. LBPD found backpacks containing spray cans and other instruments commonly associated with graffiti.
The suspects arrested on Saturday night were ages 18 (L.A.), 19 and 20 (both LB).
LBPD encourages residents and businesses to report graffiti to City Hall's graffiti hotline: (562) 570-2773. It's not a panacea...but "reporting the graffiti is a necessary first step" in the process of controlling it, Officer Gomez said.
