MOORPARK : 11 Youths Arrested in Graffiti Attacks

Ventura County sheriff’s deputies have arrested 11 juveniles in the past week in connection with a string of graffiti attacks on schools and private property in Moorpark, authorities said.

Most of the vandalism occurred late last month, said Sgt. Marty Rouse, although one incident took place in December.

Vandals painted their nicknames or initials on Moorpark High School, Flory School, Chaparral Middle School and a private condominium complex in the wave of attacks, estimated to have caused $3,000 damage, Rouse said.

The damage also includes stereo equipment taken from Chapparal Middle School by vandals who broke into the school.

Rouse said the five juveniles allegedly involved in the break-in were arrested on suspicion of felony burglary and misdemeanor vandalism and released on their own recognizance. The other six juveniles were arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor vandalism and released, Rouse said.

Rouse credited cooperative school administrators and detailed follow-up investigations by deputies for the arrests, which came through identifying the “tags” of specific individuals and using the information to trace their activities.

None of the juveniles are gang members, Rouse said, nor was the graffiti gang-related. “It’s just people emulating and getting their kicks and maybe some notoriety from writing their tag names on the wall,” he said.