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Courtesy Friends of Red Rock Canyon
Damage is shown after vandals used spray paint on historic rock art panels at Red Rock Canyon.
Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 | 2:12 p.m.
Damage is shown after vandals used spray paint on historic rock art panels at Red Rock Canyon.
Sun Archives
- Vandals hit ancient art at Red Rock (11-29-10)
Metro Police said vandals responsible for recent graffiti at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation area are associated with a local gang sometimes referred to as the "Nasty Habits Crew."
Police said the gang identifies itself by the letters "NHC," which also has other meanings.
The vandals use the graffiti monikers of "RODO," "64C" and "PWE," which can be spelled "Pee Wee," police said.
Metro's graffiti investigation detail is working with the Bureau of Land Management to find those responsible for the vandalism. The crime carries a possible five-year jail sentence and a fine up to $100,000, authorities said.
The Red Rock art panels — varying in size from 3-by-6 feet to 8-by-9 feet — were covered with maroon spray paint. The vandalism happened in the Willow Spring/Lost Creek area, officials said.
The panels included pictographs, defined as paintings and drawings on rock, and petroglyphs, drawings scraped and ground onto the surface of the rock. All were severely damaged, officials said.
The Bureau of Land Management estimates that restoration will cost about $10,000. The vandalism is the most severe case in Red Rock in the past several years.
Friends of Red Rock Canyon and the Conservation Lands Foundation are offering a $2,500 reward to anyone who provides information that leads to the conviction of those responsible for the graffiti.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555 or to visit www.crimestoppersofnv.com.
