Graffiti

The ENA in cooperation with the City of Olympia has started a program to help combat graffiti in the Eastside neighborhood. Modeled on the Northeast Neighborhood Association’s successful program we’ll be working to help cleanup (and hopefully prevent) graffiti and tagging in our neighborhood.

The City of Olympia has supplied the ENA with a graffiti cleanup kit and Eastside neighborhood resident Tim Byrne has volunteered to work on cleaning up graffiti. To report graffiti you can either report it directly using the contact information below or email us at vandalism@eastside-olympia.org and we’ll make sure that the graffiti is cleaned as soon as possible.

It can be difficult to successfully prosecute a graffiti case unless someone actually witnesses the crime in progress so make sure to report suspicious activity. You can call the Olympia Police Department on their non-emergency line at (360) 704-2740. This truly is a crime that the public can help fight by keeping neighborhoods free of graffiti and reporting suspicious activity.

City of Olympia Graffiti Information Flyer (PDF)

Graffiti Cleanup Contact Information

  • Downtown businesses - ODA (Olympia Downtown Association) at (360) 357-8948.
  • Signs, City property, garbage/recycle cans - Public Works at (360) 753-8588.
  • City parks - Parks, Arts, and Recreation, at (360) 753-8380.
  • State buildings or parks (Heritage, Marathon, and Sylvester) - (360) 725-0015.
  • PSE power boxes - Puget Sound Energy at (888) 225-5773.
  • Qwest boxes - Qwest Repair Services at (800) 573-1311
  • Private property - owner is responsible for clean up.

Waste/Recycle Cart Graffiti

Does your neighborhood have residential waste or recycle carts marred by graffiti? This is another problem we can tackle together.

Recently, WasteResources committed to help locate and submit work orders for damaged carts they see on their routes. Those will be collected and replaced. The damaged carts are cleaned at the Maintenance Center by the Probation Work Crew and reused.

We’re asking for your help to:

Encourage everyone to bring carts back off of the curb after collection day. Carts are more likely to be tagged if left out.

Spread the word that customers can ask for a replacement cart by calling 753-7368 or emailing Gateway Services (pwgatewayservices@ci.olympia.wa.us).

Report graffiti on other carts in the neighborhood in the same manner. You will need to provide the address and cart color. It would also be helpful if the neighbor is informed of the request so they can leave the cart out for pick up.

Thanks to all of you who continue to help bust graffiti out of our neighborhoods!

Safety Tips

While Olympia has been recognized as one of America’s safest cities, this standard list of personal safety tips will help keep it that way:

Protecting Yourself at Home

Lock your door, even when you intend to return home shortly. It takes a thief ten seconds or less to enter an open room and steal your property.

Lock or secure doors and windows when you are alone or asleep.

Keep emergency numbers by your phone.

Do not leave messages on your door indicating that you are away and when you will return.

If someone asks to use your phone for an emergency call, offer to telephone for them instead of allowing them access.

Do not put your address on your key ring.

Know your neighbors.

Do not leave keys in hiding places. Thieves will find them. Carry your keys or make sure that anyone who truly needs them has their own copy.

Call 911 to report suspicious persons or activity in or around your neighborhood.

Keep automatic teller machine cards in a safe place, keep your PIN number secret. When possible, only use ATMs during the day.

Instead of carrying large sums of cash use a charge card. Some charge cards insure property purchased with those cards against loss, theft or damage.

If you find yourself in immediate danger, call 911; try to stay calm and get away at the first opportunity.

Protect Yourself When Walking

Avoid walking alone at night unless absolutely necessary.

Keep to well lit commonly traveled routes.

Avoid shortcuts and dark, isolated areas.

Walk purposefully, know where you are going, project a no-nonsense image.

Avoid potentially dangerous situations.

If you feel threatened, cross the street, locate an emergency phone, or enter a store or place of business even if you have just left it.

Have your door keys ready; carry them in your pockets, not buried in a purse.

Protect Your Automobile, Bicycle or Moped

Always lock your car. (One in five stolen cars was left with keys in the ignition.)

Lock bikes to immovable objects or bike racks with hardened alloy locks and chains or U-shaped lock

Do not leave tempting valuables or property visible inside the car. Lock these items in the trunk.

Lock mopeds as you would bikes.

Protecting yourself

Look into your car before getting in. Lock doors and roll up windows once inside for protection.

Never pick up hitchhikers.

Carry change for emergency calls. 911 is a free call.

Drive to a police or fire station or open place of business if you feel you are being followed.