Police looking for DBC graffiti vandal

KELOWNA – Police are asking the public to help them identify a suspect after an explosion of at least 600 tags appeared around the city over the last several months.

Graffiti vandalism has been on the rise, Const. Kris Clark says, and the number found under the "Dollar Bill Crew" (DBC) as they've coined themselves, may actually be only a third of what's out there. Along with the tag DBC, individual tags associated with the crew include VISH, VISHIS, PUKE, WISP and EZ.

On Dec. 16, a youth was seen tagging several locations around the area of highway 97 and Baron Road. The tag left behind indicated he was part of the Dollar Bill Crew and a photo was obtained of him and his tags.

"Graffiti vandalism is not a victimless crime," Const. Clark says. "It decreases property value by decreasing aesthetic appeal, diverts tax dollars from community programs and services, and can affect a community's sense of safety and security. This one group alone has already cost an estimated $10,000 for removal of their tags."

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Kelowna RCMP, Cst HARTL, at 250-762-3300. Remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, leaving a tip online at www.crimestoppers.net or by texting your tip to CRIMES (274637) ktown.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca, call (250) 718-0428 or tweet @AdamProskiw.