Los Gatos Graffiti Vandal Arrested

Los Gatos/Monte Sereno police arrested a 19-year-old man April 5 on suspicion of having committed various vandalism acts around town.

Andrew Medina Flores, a transient, was taken into custody at about noon last Friday on Johnson Avenue in Los Gatos.

His arrest comes after about a dozen vandalism crimes were reported to police starting March 22 and continuing until April 5, the day of his arrest.

It's not known if police are linking Flores to all the incidents, but sources say he's connected to the majority of them through the investigative work of school resource officer Leyton Howard.

Flores was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail for an outstanding warrant and felony vandalism, according to a police report.

Los Gatos/Monte Sereno police Sgt. spokesman Michael D’Antonio said several of the crimes are still under investigation and that four juveniles have been arrested regarding an egging and Flores is believed to be responsible for several others. 

The vandalisms are graffiti, destruction of property and egg throwing.

The following are the vandalism crimes reported by police beginning on March 22.

Defacing public property is considered misdemeanor vandalism when the damage is less than $400 and is punishable with up to a year in county Jail, a fine of between $1,000 and $5,000 and probation time.

Felony vandalism is when the damage is worth more than $400 and is punishable with up to a year or 16 months in county jail, two or three years in state prison and a fine of between $10,000 and $50,000.

There are statutes for vandalizing a place of worship and if the tags qualify as a hate crime, it's a felony. Serial vandals, such as taggers who mark many sites, can be charged with cumulative cost to repair the damage, i.e. a tagger who marks 100 bus benches, and it costs $50 each to clean up the tags, the value of the vandalism may be counted as $5,000, and as such, a felony, according to police.

To report graffiti on Los Gatos public property, please contact the Los Gatos Parks and Public Works Department, 408-399-5770, or email ppw@losgatosca.gov.

You may also report graffiti to the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department's graffiti hotline number, 408-354-6863.

For graffiti on VTA bus shelters in town, call VTA customer service at 408-321-2300.