Hot Topic: Graffiti in Oak Forest—Who's Painting the Town?

Let Patch paint you a picture: It's a typical weekday morning in . The sun is shining, the coffee's steaming. You grab your coat and head out the door to work. In the car, you tune to your favorite station, and slowly back out of the garage. As the door lowers, you spot it: a choice word sprayed across the white wood.

You scream. You gesticulate. You wonder who would have done such a thing. And then what?

Sound familiar? It happened at 155th and LaVergne, and via Facebook, readers chatted with Patch about it—and other graffiti they've noticed.

• Jill Stokes: There are gang symbols and all sorts of graffiti on Victoria, from Boca Rio to the end (headed west).
• Dionne Knee: ... Few houses down they also did the same to the fence on 154th and lavergne. They got the sign at vergnway park as well as a few mail boxes. And the for sale sign on the house couple doors down from 153rd and lavergne. Haven't been out much but that's what I've seen. They've fixed the park sign and tried to paint the garage too. It's sad!
• Amy Litviak: Train station is all tagged up with gang signs

When Patch stopped into the and asked Chief Greg Anderson about it, he knew specifically which area fans were referring to—Victoria Drive. While some residents might be concerned the tagging is gang-related, Anderson assures that in that area, it's basic tagging by local kids.

In fact, he said, Oak Forest does not have a strong gang proliferation. While members of some gangs might reside in town, the area is not heavy on gang-related crime.

But they're ready for it, should it occur, he said. The department belongs to a gang task force through the Cook County Sheriff's Department. If vandalism is gang-related, it's the task force that cleans it up.

What Should You Do If You Spot Graffiti?

Call the police. An officer will come out to check the area and determine if it could be gang-related. The graffiti will be removed as quickly as possible, Anderson said. Some homeowners or residents might try to remove it themselves. Don't, Anderson said. Make the call to police first.

"If it is gang-related, that's important for us to know," he said.

We Want to Know...

• How often do you spot graffiti or vandalism in your neighborhood?
• Which areas do you think get the brunt of it?
• Have you reported it each time you've seen it?
• What, if any, gang presence do you feel Oak Forest has?