BEVERLY — A week after 14 Mason and Lyman street homes were hit with gang-like graffiti, neighbors are bonding to create a neighborhood watch program, police said.
Officer John McCarthy, the spokesman for the police department, said neighbors, police and Ward 3 Councilor John Burke committed themselves to creating the neighborhood watch program. McCarthy said Friday that almost 40 residents came to a Wednesday night meeting with police to talk about the graffiti. Police promised to send more patrol cars and bike patrols through the neighborhood.
Homes attacked Aug. 28 were hit with graffiti similar to what gangs use, except markings from many gangs were included.
McCarthy said everyone at the meeting “agreed this is not a gang-related activity, and it was not a hate crime. While the graffiti was not unlike gang graffiti, this was an act of random vandalism. No gang has moved into the neighborhood.”
Prior to the graffiti on 14 homes, Beverly police had taken reports of seven acts of graffiti this entire year. Police also said the area has generally been quiet.
McCarthy said participants would also develop a city ordinance to regulate the sale of spray paint.
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