Graffiti vandals boast on Bebo (From The Argus)

Graffiti vandals boast on Bebo

10:00am Monday 9th March 2009 in News By Naomi Loomes

A gang of graffiti vandals has set up a social networking page to brag about defacing beauty spots.

Seven 15 and 16-year-olds from Eastbourne have daubed over walls and property across the town.

The group, who call themselves Local Krew 2k8 Aka Gimp Twn:) (LGK), boast about their illegal antics on Bebo.

One 16-year-old member wrote on the networking page: “Me, shane n olli nearly got caught dis weekend.”

He went on to warn his friends against tagging vans and urged them to stick to walls instead.

Damage Another vandal, who calls himself “Rude Boi”, suggested the group should meet soon with spray pens and stickers and find somewhere they could scrawl “propa graffiti where we can all do it without getting cort”.

Police said the vandals had no artistic value and would be dealt with “robustly” when caught.

Members of the graffiti gang list their interests as drinking, running away from police and starting fights.

In a reference to favourite sports, one writes: “If drinking alco and getting into fights is a sport den its dat.”

The group, whose members include “Mr Wah” and “Waste Man” have also posted a gallery of pictures of their graffiti on Bebo.

Last week The Argus told the story of graffiti artist Solveig Maseyk, ten, from Portslade.

The youngster, who has created 20ft murals in Brighton, London and Berlin, has been branded a major talent by cult magazine Graphotism.

But unlike the LGK vandals, she sticks to legal sites – in Brighton these include Kensington Street, the New England Quarter and Black Rock.

Another graffiti artist, who asked not to be named, said: “These kids who have been involved in the vandalism need to learn not to paint on people’s personal property.

“It can wreck small businesses and people’s homes.”

Detective Inspector Ian Williams, of Sussex Police, said: “The defacing of someone’s property, graffiti, is criminal damage. In the majority of cases it has no artistic value and causes annoyance and can cost the taxpayer and property owners money to remove it.

“Anyone suspected of this type of crime can expect to be arrested and dealt with robustly.

“It is not tolerated and in this instance I have asked officers to commence an investigation.”

Two months ago Worthing had its worst graffiti blitz when vandals spray-painted taunts including “Catch me if you can” on to public buildings.

A covert operation by Sussex Police led to two arrests after graffiti appeared on the Pavilion Theatre.

Officers said graffiti was blighting Worthing and skewing people’s perception of it as a safe place.

naomi.loomes@theargus.co.uk