From My Bottom Step

A London Police Service media release:

The London Police Service Community Oriented Response Unit commenced an eight month investigation into the ongoing problem with graffiti in and around the downtown area. On Tuesday January 12 2010 the London Police Service Community Oriented Response Unit executed three Criminal Code search warrants to residences on Oxford Street East, Nelson Street and Horton Street and arrested three males.

Police seized a large number of items from these homes including graffiti and tagging paraphernalia consisting of paint, spray cans, spray can tips, ink markers, shoe polish markers, pastel crayons, rubber gloves, painters masks and other objects used to write, paint or mark graffiti. Other items seized included computer equipment, sketches and photographs.

The eight month long investigation involved the IKS (I kill s#!t) graffiti gang crew. It is estimated that forty five percent of the total graffiti in the City of London over the past year can be attributed to the IKS graffiti gang crew. Each arrested male in the IKS graffiti gang crew had their own “tag”. These tags reported to the Police were primarily in the downtown area but also included graffiti in found in parks, on bridges, mailboxes, the sides of trains and also on personal vehicles in various other areas of the City. In total there is estimated to be between $75,000 and $100,000 in damage to property.

Benjamin Pavlov, 18 years of London is charged with 15 counts of property damage under $5,000. Benjamin Pavlov is responsible for the tag “DARK”.

A 16 year old male of London is charged with 18 counts of property damage under $5,000 and possession of marihuana. The 16 year old male is responsible for the tag “BERS”.

A 16 year old male of London is charged with 13 counts of property damage under $5,000. The 16 year old male is responsible for the tag “MAUR”.