EL PASO, Texas -- KFOX asked some El Pasoans what they think of when they see graffiti.

"We want people to understand that it's a crime against their quality of life," said East El Pasoan Chris Dobson.

East El Pasoan Taylor Gamboa said, "Gangs... drug activity.... and violence. It makes me think, why would people do that? Because it's just wrong to hurt other people's property."

It is because graffiti creates such negative images in people's minds that the El Paso Police Foundation has launched a public awareness campaign called "Stop Graffiti El Paso."

Those behind the effort said if you start seeing graffiti in your neighborhood, you're likely to see even bigger problems soon after.

"When you have graffiti that is that goes unremoved, then it does become a high-crime, area and it becomes not only blighted, but blighted areas result in other crimes being committed. So, graffiti must be removed immediately in order to prevent other crime from developing in the area," said Richard Barraza with the El Paso Police Foundation.

Through posters and public service announcements, the campaign aims to let people know how they can report graffiti and get it removed from their neighborhoods.

"I wish all this graffiti was gone and done and kids can run around without fear of gang members jumping them or anything," said Dobson.