On Friday, September 8, 2017, the Moreno Valley Community Services Unit (CSU) and the Moreno Valley Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Team conducted a controlled buy of spray paint at various businesses within the City of Moreno Valley. The goal of this program is to reduce illegal graffiti by restricting the illegal sales of spray paint to minors.
The program used plain clothes personnel who entered businesses who sell spray paint and attempted to purchase spray cans illegally.
During the program, fourteen locations were visited. Of the fourteen locations visited, five locations illegally sold spray paint to an underage buyer. Employees who illegally sold the spray paint were arrested for a misdemeanor and issued citations.
The next day, members of CSU returned to the nine locations, which did not illegally sell spray paint, and spoke with their management informing them that their procedures and training were effective in preventing the illegal sales.