Joel Delgado's Graffiti Vandalism

Twenty-seven-year-old Joel Delgado is notorious in Phoenix for his graffiti vandalism. He was recently arrested by authorities for his 20-month vandalism spree and charged with criminal damage and aggravated criminal damage. He confessed to vandalizing more than 300 locations in the area. He admitted that the adrenaline rush drove him to do this and he couldn't stop. He could spend six years and three months in prison, but the case is ongoing.

The method used to capture him wasn't traditional investigations, but technological. It led to his arrest, and authorities hope this application can stop copycat vandals.

The Phoenix Police Department received access to new technology specifically made to track vandalism history. Police officers could go to the scene of the crime and search for clues. Information on the walls and the items surrounding the crime scene were taken as evidence. Often, vandals leave their mark on graffiti works, and the mark is the same for all. Since it captured Delgado, the same technology will get more vandals off the streets. Phoenix Police will investigate all graffiti in the area, capture the people responsible, and charge them with the current crime, and past crimes with their mark on it. It gets better, however. You can help. …show more content…
With many Phoenix residents owning a Smartphone, Android and iPhone users can download an app called MyPhoenix in the app store and take a photograph of graffiti. Press submit, and the app does the rest. Specifically, the app transfers the photo to Phoenix Neighborhood Services. It will enter the database so government officials can examine the area in person for additional