Dear Editor,

Would the mindless morons who insist on "tagging" public and private properties with their graffiti please identify themselves? I would like to return the favour by writing a message of my own on their parents' garage doors.

No? I didn't think so. It wouldn't be nearly as entertaining if someone did it where they live. Or better yet, if someone went into their bedrooms and defaced your personal property.

Of course, I don't expect the offenders to read this. Anything on a printed page and not on their computer screens will never meet their eyes. But perhaps their parents may see this, and dare I hope, give it some thought.

This vandalism is on fences, mailboxes, utility boxes and other surfaces everywhere. If I, as a parent, saw anything similar drawn in my child's room or on a notebook, or found spray paint or felt markers in junior's backpack, I would have my child out scrubbing every graffiti mark within five blocks of our home, whether he put them there or not.

We moved to Walnut Grove many years ago, in part because it is a lovely neighbourhood and we appreciate our surroundings.

But lately it is becoming far less attractive. Walking daily throughout the streets of the area, I have noticed a growing number of new "tags". In recent weeks it has been getting much worse.

Our schools are charged with educating our children, but seem unable to effectively communicate this lesson in civic responsibility to their students. So it is left to parents to teach their children what it means to be a caring and responsible neighbour.

If parents won't do it, no one will.

Name withheld, Walnut Grove