MISSION VIEJO : Vandalism at Shopping Center Is Alleviated
A vandalism and trash problem at the Village Shopping Center that had prompted merchants to complain to the city appears to be resolved, according to a city code enforcement officer.
Shop owners had complained to the Planning Commission last September about teen-agers hanging out at a Del Taco franchise. The youths allegedly marred the shopping plaza by damaging windows and walls with graffiti and leaving trash scattered in the parking lot.
Del Taco representatives and the merchants have taken steps against the vandalism by installing a video camera at the restaurant and motion-activated lights around the shopping center.
Code enforcement officer Donna Haskill said Del Taco set out new trash cans and strives to clean up refuse promptly. A neighboring chiropractic office has installed anti-graffiti coating on its windows to prevent the glass from being purposely scratched with razor blades.
Sheriff’s Lt. Kim Markusson said that the center, which once needed constant police patrolling, has not produced any vandalism calls in recent weeks.
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