Up to 27 businesses hit with graffiti in Ypsilanti's downtown
Grafitti that appeared on buildings throughout Ypsilanti.
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
Ypsilanti’s downtown was hit with at least 30 of the same graffiti tags over what officials suspect was a several-day period at the end of June.
Ypsilanti Police Sgt. Dennis Szymankiewicz said the department received only three complaints and is investigating all as malicious destruction of property cases.
Szymankiewicz says all the graffiti in the complaints the department received was done with orange spray paint and had the same style, but he said it doesn’t appear that it is gang related.
City Planner Teresa Gillotti said she suspected as many as 27 businesses had been hit. By Friday morning, many businesses had painted over the tags, but around 20 remained in the downtown district.
“It’s similar in style and it looks like one person did it,” Gillotti said.
The new graffiti appears next to "SAES" graffiti that was the tag of an Ann Arbor youth who recently pleaded guilty to 28 vandalism charges. The sign faces South Hamilton Street and is just north of Abe's Coney Island.
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
Among those tagged were several area churches, the former Pub 13, the former Club Divine, utility boxes up and down Michigan Avenue, the Corner Health Center, Congdon's Ace Hardware and more.
Per city building code, businesses have five days to remove graffiti from their buildings and Gillotti said ordinance officers were checking the buildings to see where they remained.
No tickets have been issued yet, though warnings to remove the graffiti were sent to 16 businesses.
The incident comes after two Ann Arbor teens were arrested for painting SAES and MOLE across Ann Arbor earlier this year and late last year. One vandalized 28 locations with the same graffiti tag between November and May in Ann Arbor and awaits sentencing. The other pleaded guilty to 11 counts of malicious destruction of property, was ordered to pay more than $13,500 in restitution and serve six months on probation.
Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter. Contact the AnnArbor.com news desk at news@annarbor.com.
Comments
Steve Pierce
Wed, Jul 17, 2013 : 5:35 p.m.
They also painted a vehicle in a city parking lot. The vandals returned again this weekend hitting another 10 plus locations.
IVote
Wed, Jul 17, 2013 : 3:34 p.m.
Scum bags. Make it a priority to catch them and make them clean it off, and more! Don't ticket businesses because police can't keep their property safe. I'm surprised any businesses want to stay in Ypsianti. This is probably some scumbag that gets free health care at the corner health care!l
Sred
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 8:52 p.m.
Also HIT Conley's Auto Repair about a week ago
Grimey
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 8:30 p.m.
This tagger also hit the First Congregation United (N. Adams & Emmet) and First Presbyterian (N. Washington & Emmet). Real class act here.
Major Groove
Sat, Jul 13, 2013 : 6:35 p.m.
Two VERY lucrative businesses...
Goober
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 8:18 p.m.
Yes! Punish the victims. Write tickets. Go figure!
Steven Taylor
Sat, Jul 13, 2013 : 2:32 a.m.
How about we 'tag' the vandals with radio collars. and every time they think of adding their 'art' or perspective we give 'em a jolt of good ole electricity.
Steven Taylor
Sat, Jul 13, 2013 : 2:31 a.m.
You were a victim of a crime, now fix the damage done to you, or we'll kick you in the nards again!
Mike
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 7:52 p.m.
We need outlets for these "artists"; I'm sure someone will get a government grant to study the problem or build them walls to paint.............
nickcarraweigh
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 5:48 p.m.
We should have them flogged, or make them move to Williamsburg
treetowncartel
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 7:29 p.m.
Hah, not sure why, but that did make me chuckle. I don't think they would fit in down there in Williamsburg.
Usual Suspect
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 5:25 p.m.
Good job displaying their work yet again. This blog will never get the point. They want attention, and you give it to them, along with a good dose of encouragement to continue doing it.
grye
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 5:17 p.m.
The lack of respect for other's property is disturbing. What kind of values were these people passed by their parents? Anything goes as long as no one is harmed? Or maybe they said " leave your mark on society". The took it literally.
dading dont delete me bro
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 5:03 p.m.
"...with at least 30 of the same graffiti tags..." and "Up to 27 businesses hit..." there isn't any survellience cameras that caught anything? the intro photo looks like a foyer shot around washington st. can't tell me there isn't cameras along there somewhere?
MathGeek
Fri, Jul 12, 2013 : 2:17 p.m.
*aren't.
EyeHeartA2
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 4:17 p.m.
Looks like a art fair contest winner to me!! http://www.aadl.org/events/graffiticontest .....but of course we would never encourage anything illegal. Only legal graffiti.
Billy
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 4:13 p.m.
It's much like a dog marking it's territory....and from the looks of it about as creative too...
glimmertwin
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 3:29 p.m.
Nice touch adding the info about the Ann Arbor arrests. That will head off much of the "must be Ypsi" comments.
Ignatz
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 3:11 p.m.
The embodiment of the anonymous look at me trend.
Ross
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 2:54 p.m.
What kind of pathetic coward does this stuff. Truly the lowest type of human behavior.
evenyoubrutus
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 8:44 p.m.
I would consider rape to be the lowest type of human behavior, plus a few other activities but ok.
Solitude
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 2:38 p.m.
Was the SAES vandal charged with the Ypsi crimes also, or just the A2 incidents?
dading dont delete me bro
Thu, Jul 11, 2013 : 5:08 p.m.
wat is SAES stand for?