Vandals shocked art lovers last fall by throwing soup on Van Gogh’s iconic sunflower painting and smearing mashed potatoes on a Monet masterpiece. Fortunately, glass coverings protected the priceless canvasses from damage.
“If only commercial properties were so lucky,” says Kevin Sullivan, President, Paul Davis Restoration of Northern Virginia. “Vandalism rates have been dropping over the past decade, fortunately, but property crimes are still a big concern among commercial and retail customers. We understand the urgency for security and immediate restoration.”
Why does vandalism occur? Experts point to a range of reasons: to punish your business, express negative emotions, communicate, show off, alleviate boredom, or form bonds with a group, to name just a few. Social problems nearby – labor unrest, protests, gang activity – also increase risks.
Paul Davis Restoration mitigates and restores all types of property crime impacts and fields teams within hours of a call for help:
- Fire damage
- Looting
- Breaking and entering
- Physical damage such as breaking windows, bending/defacing/removing signage
- Stealing – removing items from property, including signage, outdoor furniture, stored inventory
- Graffiti removal
“Graffiti is one of the most common property crimes we encounter,” Sullivan says. “Very effective removal technologies and equipment now exist that beautifully restore defaced areas. Rapid response is particularly important to deter future graffiti damage.”
Sullivan recommends preventative steps to deter vandalism:
- Form relationships and partnerships with community groups, nearby businesses, local police and neighborhood watch organizations
- Consider hiring a security firm to patrol the property
- Install outdoor lights
- Install alarm systems
And finally: “Report any vandalism, no matter how minor,” Sullivan concludes. “Your small incident may be part of a larger crime pattern and your input may help catch the perpetrators and prevent future mischief.”