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71 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 16, 2004 A pay phone next to Rose Grocery on West Jackson Street has been a recent target for vandals. Medford�s municipal code requires graffiti to be erased within 10 days at the owner�s expense. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Victimized by vandals Private and public property is being defaced by graffiti By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune Terri Campfield arrived to work one day at the Yellow Submarine sandwich shop only to find that vandals had left their mark at her Central Avenue business. Somebody scribbled incomprehensible graffiti on a garbage can and an air conditioner and even went so far as to climb atop the building and deface most of the roof. "They hit the whole top of the building," said Campfield, co-owner of the Medford shop. "I couldn’t make sense of it — it was all mumbo-jumbo." Adding to her annoyance was the fact that after she reported the vandalism to police, she was informed it was her responsibility to clean it up. "I was like, geez," she said. "But it’s OK — it is our property. It’s just that it’s a pain, and an added expense we don’t need." Advertisement Joe Jimenez sympathizes with Campfield and other property owners victimized by vandals. As Medford’s code-enforcement officer, it’s his job to record instances of graffiti and report them to police. "It’s a daily thing for me," said Jimenez, who keeps hundreds of photos of local graffiti on his office computer. "I know it’s frustrating for property owners — they sometimes get angry and I don’t blame them," he said. "But we want to get rid of (graffiti) as soon as possible. Otherwise, (vandals) will get the feeling you don’t care, and they’ll keep doing it." As Campfield and dozens of other local business owners have learned, Medford’s municipal code requires graffiti be erased within 10 days. Those who defy the ordinance risk being fined. "We’ve been hit by (graffiti) quite a few times," said Scott Little, whose wife owns Rose Grocery on West Jackson Street. "It’s a nuisance. I’ve had to cover up some of it by myself." The city is willing to help businesses clean up graffiti, said Howard Pendleton, a community service officer with the Medford Police Department. The only problem is that spray paint carried by CSOs doesn’t always match the color of a damaged building or sign. It’s not just private property that’s being defaced by Medford vandals. Street signs, bridges and light poles are frequent targets of "taggers." "The McAndrews Street bridge has about a half-inch of paint on it," Pendleton said. By the way, the word "tagging" is one Jimenez refuses to use. "I won’t call it that," he said. "To me, it’s pure vandalism." Medford police Lt. Mike Moran agrees. "Some people say it’s art," Moran said. "It’s not." After Jimenez and city CSOs photograph instances of graffiti, they hand the evidence to police Sgt. Mark Bell, who heads up MPD’s gang and street drugs unit. Bell was unavailable for comment last week to respond to questions about how much, if any, local graffiti is gang-related. Jimenez says more than likely, the culprits are youngsters with nothing better to do. "Obviously it’s something immature," he said. "Hopefully, these people will outgrow it." Pendleton said the city’s school-resource officers are also made aware of fresh graffiti. When an officer recognizes a particular pattern from something seen scrawled on a backpack or locker, the student’s parents are notified. If police can prove the match, it’s up to the student or their parents to pay for the damages. "We see new ones every day, but we don’t think of it as a losing proposition," Jimenez said. "Graffiti is a way for (vandals) to say ‘This is mine.’ But if people get rid of it right away and refuse to let them take over, that’s the best way to reduce it." Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] . 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