The Los Banos Police Department has completed an investigation involving several vandalisms reports, to City and private property, which has resulted in the arrest of a 17-year-old male from Los Banos.
The investigation began several weeks ago when School Resource Officer Dusty Norris contacted the juvenile suspect after he was caught on a local school campus vandalizing property. The Officer discovered several “taggings” in the juvenile’s possession similar to what Officers have been discovering on property in the Los Banos area. Officer Norris was able to identify approximately 50 different sites the suspect vandalized with his distinct style of spray paint graffiti.
On April 23, 2013 at approximately 4:30 p.m., Officers from the Los Banos Police Department served a search warrant at the suspect’s residence in the 900 Block of Birch Avenue and placed him under arrest. During the search, Officers located further evidence which consisted of numerous drawings, matching those which have been found on City and privately owned property, and numerous spray paint cans.
“Our crime analyst keeps good records of the graffiti reported in Los Banos so we were able to identify when the graffiti appeared and establish a pattern of the activity. At this point our estimations of the damage and cost to clean up the sites put the damage at over $10,000.00. We have been working with the District Attorney’s Office and will be requesting restitution from the suspect’s parents. City crews have also been working hard to clean up the vandalism.”
-Ray Reyna, Commander
The Juvenile suspect was transported to the Merced County Juvenile Hall facility charged with felony vandalism. Anyone wishing to report graffiti vandalism can contact the Los Banos Police Department’s business line or report through the Departments web site at www.losbanos.org.
To leave an anonymous crime tip call 209-827-7070 Ext. 288. If you have access to a computer and the internet you can also leave an anonymous tip at the Police Department’s web page at www.losbanos.org. At the bottom of the “Contact” page simply click on the “report graffiti and other crime” link or visit the Merced Area Crime Stoppers by telephone at 1-855-725-2420, or at www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org
