Due to a recent outbreak of graffiti vandalism in the Levittown area, the Nassau County Police Department, Crime Stoppers and the Graffiti Task Force are joining forces in an effort to stop the vandals from continuing, in addition to promoting awareness of the severity of the graffiti problem in the Levittown area and the county as a whole.

Some of the recent targets of graffiti vandals have included the P.C. Richard's store on Hempstead Tpke., an overpass on the Wantagh Parkway and the property outside a local realtor, located next door to P.C. Richards.

According to police, the vandals have been leaving their tags in bubble lettering at these locations. The tag, a word or symbol often left by graffiti artists, left at these particular locations has spelled out "DFECT" in black or red-colored letters. The graffiti has surfaced at these locations in recent weeks, the P.C. Richards being hit once about a month ago and again somewhere between April 13 and 14.

According to Gary Hudes, Hempstead Town councilman and chairman of the Graffiti Task Force, the best way to get the word out to these vandals that their actions are unacceptable is to cover up their work immediately. He said residents or business owners don't have to immediately paint over the graffiti, just do a "block out," draw a square around the graffiti tag and color it in.

"These [graffiti vandals] are misguided individuals who have been unable to attain fame and recognition in the normal mainstream of life," Hudes said, noting that when it comes to younger vandals, they are generally individuals who are not involved in school related programs or athletics. "If they can put it into an area that is well traveled, such as a parkway or on P.C. Richards' wall, which is right under the lights where people can see it, that gives them an even bigger high. Cleaning it up [immediately] sends a message to them that it's unacceptable."

Hudes said that the vandals often choose locations such as a highway overpass not only because of its high visibility, but also because they know that cleaning up such an area could have its difficulties. He added that the overpass on the Wantagh Parkway was cleaned up within days.

P.C. Richards Sales Manager Emilio Rosa said that the graffiti was covered up after the store was hit approximately one month ago. He noted that the vandals came back about two weeks later and vandalized the store wall again.

"This is why we move out of the city, because of things like this," Rosa said about the graffiti. He added that the police, as well as Hudes, have been very helpful. "We have a lead [and] they're definitely on the case," he said. "Especially Gary Hudes, he's very persistent. He will definitely catch these guys."

Rosa added that the vandalism is especially a shame because of all the work that is being done on Hempstead Tpke.

"This place never looked so good," he said. "This is a real slap in the face to the community."

Hudes said that many graffiti vandals are often involved in gangs or tagging crews and that some have even produced booklets to use as guidelines.

"While one works, the other one watches," he said. "We have confiscated tagging books, some of which have instructions in them, such as what time the police change shifts and when are the best times to do it."

Hudes said that since the inception of the Graffiti Task Force over six years ago, there has been a marked decline in graffiti throughout the county. This has been accomplished in various ways, including the implementation of several programs to help raise awareness and institute the cleanup of the graffiti problem.

He noted that inmates from the county's correctional facility, those who are serving time for mild offenses such as DWIs, as well as those who need to fulfill community service hours, go out and remove the graffiti from public property. Hudes added that the only loophole there is right now is that the inmates are only permitted to work at removing graffiti on public property, but oftentimes the graffiti shows up on the side of a stockade fence which faces a main road, such as Hempstead Tpke. He said that new legislation introduced by Assemblyman Bob Barra will soon allow them to work on private property, of course at the owner's approval.

Hudes noted that the Graffiti Task Force has been very successful in helping the vandalism decline. He said that members of the Task Force have promoted awareness by meeting with community groups and have gone into local schools to talk to students. In addition, he said that they were the driving force behind the enforcement of locking up spray paint and wide magic markers in stores, in addition to not selling those products to individuals under the age of 18. He added that with spring here and summer on its way, there may be more of an increase of graffiti in the area and it has to be stopped.

"With the weather getting warmer now, there has been a slight increase in the amount of the graffiti being visible," he said. "We want this individual(s), that has no regard for residential, community [and] governmental property, to face the music and become responsible for their actions."

He noted that while the town and county spend hundreds and thousands of dollars revitalizing Hempstead Tpke. and beautifying other areas of the community, these individuals come along and destroy those efforts.

"They are criminals - plain and simple," Hudes said. "[They're destroying] property that is not theirs. We want to catch this person(s) and any others. I think that if we do and we make an example, then we can maybe cut down on this and concentrate on what we should be concentrating on and that is making the community more beautiful in a positive way."

The Nassau County Police Department, Crime Stoppers and the Graffiti Task Force are seeking residents' help in catching these vandals who are marring the community. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest of the subject(s) responsible for this and other graffiti found in the area. All calls to their toll free number, 1-800-244-TIPS, are anonymous and callers do not have to reveal their identity or testify in court. Hudes said that he is looking to organize a group, whether it be a community organization, Boy Scout group or other; to participate in a community service day, cleaning up areas of public property that have been the target of graffiti vandalism. Any organizations interested in participating may call Gary Hudes at the Town of Hempstead, 489-5000.