If you’ve noticed an increase in the cases of vandalism around town and on the Fresno City College campus in particular, you are not alone.  Signs are everywhere, from street lamps to street signs and even in public bathrooms.

Greg Breshears, a utility worker at FCC, is doing his part to keep the college clean and free of graffiti. Breshears is in charge of cleaning up illegal arts on campus.

“The second floor bathroom of the Art Home Ec. building gets hit the hardest by vandals; it has to be repainted at least once a week,” Breshears said, adding that on one occasion, the entire bathroom was torn apart — the toilets and sinks were smashed, the stall doors were ripped off the hinges, and the bathroom was even set on fire.

The police staked out the area, but no arrests were made, said Chief Joe Callahan, head of the SCCCD police.  The police locked down the bathrooms for nearly a month. “It always amazes me. I don’t understand it,” Callahan said.

He said that some people just do not take into consideration how their actions will affect others, and when this happens, all suffer.  “Why would you want to trash your campus? Why would you want to destroy a bathroom that you might want to use?” he asked.

An estimated 300 cases of vandalism have been prosecuted in Fresno this year, but hundreds of cases filed are thrown out due to lack of evidence. Most prosecuted cases result in payment of restitution for damages. Offenders receive a misdemeanor on their records and probation.  

Unfortunately, due to the decreased funding and overcrowded jails, those convicted of vandalism basically receive a slap on the wrist. The repercussions do not seem to stop individuals from committing these crimes. Enforcing the restitution fees is hard and because vandalism inmates get released first during cutbacks, the threat of jail is not real.

The SCCCD Police are now patrolling within a quarter mile of the campus and cracking down on offenders more harshly.  Chief Callahan said he is hoping an increased patrolling of campus will reduce vandalism.  Meanwhile, he is unsure of how severe the incidents will be on campus. It is a “random crime, so we never know when it is going to hit, but I assure you that whatever goes on in the neighborhoods around us eventually comes to us,” he said.  “How soon who knows, how severe it will be we don’t know, but we will be ready and we will react promptly.”