'Perverted' Graffiti Vandals Hit Tacony Neighborhood - Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29

Philadelphia Police are describing it as a "random act," a series of sexually explicit words and images spray-painted onto retaining walls along the sidewalk of the 6200 block of Algard St. in Philadelphia's Tacony section.

Homeowners on this generally well-maintained block awoke Thursday morning to find the shocking scrawl on five different walls.

"I thought it was nasty and disgusting and perverted," said Christine Touey.

"Little kids will see it," added her neighbor, Bob Lewis.  "To me as an adult, it's even offensive! You know, it's just not right."

The vandal or vandals hit Angel Vasquez' work van- spraying the words "Free Candy" on the side, as if to suggest the vehicle would be used by a child molester.

His reaction?  "You crazy! I don't know."

The spray painting- in purple and green- seems to have been done sometime before 10 p.m. Wednesday night.

A number of homes on the block have security systems, but no one has a surveillance camera to catch the creeps in action.

Fred Canady, a Vietnam vet who describes himself as being "on point" in the neighborhood, said he'd call the police if he saw any kind of "tagging" going on: "If I see something, I'm dropping a dime. Talk about 'no snitch?' I would snitch."

Some residents expressed relief that the vandalism did not include tire slashings that have hit so many neighborhoods.

This is "more of an inconvenience," said longtime resident Jim Yizzi.  "But it's not a good sign. What's it going to be for the future? You know, I hope this is not a sign of things to come."

Police say there's no evidence that the vandalism was aimed at a specific target.

They say they will increase their presence in the neighborhood.