OKLAHOMA CITY -
Graffiti at
public schools and thieves targeting air conditioning units to make a cheap
buck; The costs from these vandalisms can be measured in the hundreds of
thousands of dollars and taxpayers are footing the bill.
It's an all
too common sight at Oklahoma City schools; vandalism, stripped air conditioners
and graffiti covering the walls.
"Ultimately
the taxpayers pay for the removal. We started tracking it in January and at
this point and time…we're close to $67,000 in cost," said Oklahoma City Public
Schools COO, Jim Burkey. "I do not believe that we have had a building that at
some point and time has not had some artwork put on it."
Graffiti is
just the start, but police are tracking it.
"Actually
we do have a lot of kids that are starting out in middle school with the
tagging," said Oklahoma City Police Inspector, Chris Cargill.
Thieves are
also targeting school air conditioners, causing thousands of dollars more in
damages each year.
"It only
takes about five minutes to dismantle a unit," said police inspector with the metal
theft unit, Marty Stupka. "They'll get anywhere from $100 to $150 for a coil."
Replacing
each unit, at minimum, costs the district $5,000. So police are cracking down
on these criminals.
"Right now
we're dealing with the recyclers. We had a meeting with them last November,
told them our concerns and our problems and they are working with us. They give
us a phone call when anybody comes in," said Stupka.
Police have
doubled their arrests in the last year with this partnership. And they stress a
partnership with the community to fight these crimes.
"At this
point and time we are asking for our neighbors to help us out on that. We need
their support in seeing things around our sites that are unusual, and making
the appropriate calls to the Oklahoma City Police Department," Burkey said.
The school
district is looking at how other districts across the country deal with graffiti
and copper theft problems. Seattle public schools actually turn off all their
lights instead of keeping them on, but district administrators say results
vary.
Victims of
graffiti tagging can collect restitution of up to three times the amount it
costs to remove it. Stealing
copper is punishable by up to five years in jail.
The costs from these vandalisms can be measured in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and taxpayers are footing the bill.
Replacing each A/C unit, at minimum, costs the district $5,000.
