Poll: Is graffiti a form of art?
Buildings, road signs and bus shelters have all been targeted after more than 150 graffiti tags were daubed across a town.
Police have now launched a crackdown after residents complained about the signs which have appeared on a host of properties and public places in and around Halesowen.
Thousands of pounds worth of damage has been caused as a result.
It comes after a spate of attacks in the town last summer prompting pleas for action from residents.
Police today said they believe the tags have appeared in stages over the past two months.
Officers have issued images of the signs in a bid to apprehend those responsible.
Tags have been sprayed over bus shelters, road signs, walls, fences, subways and business properties.
The most seen tags used are FLAVE, CNS (city never sleeps), FANTA, BORIS, TRAKZ, SORT, ROTE and HOPE.
Officers believe that offences are being committed overnight and have asked residents to remain vigilant.
Mucklow Hill, Stourbridge Road and Beeches Road are three areas where thousands of pounds worth of damage has been caused.
Polices spokesman Billy Corrigan said: "Officers believe that offences are being committed overnight over the last two months.
"As part of the on-going investigation, officers have spoken to local people, taken evidential photographs and are in the process of checking CCTV footage."
Halesowen Councillor David Vickers described the vandalism as 'dreadful' and said action was needed.
"It is mindblowing to think people would do this," he said. "This causes thousands of pounds of damage. I'm not happy about it at all.
"This is not art it is scribble. It is scribble on public buildings which is then someone's job to remove.
"It costs a lot of money to remove. The police also have better things to do than spent time on this."
It comes after last September, graffiti was sprayed on dozens of cars, homes and businesses in a spate of vandal attacks in the town.
More than 20 homeowners woke up to find the tag graffiti on their home walls, garage doors and vehicles in their driveways in Spies Lane and Howley Grange Road.
Anyone with information about these tags or have witnessed any suspicious activity call officers on 101.
Alternatively, people can report it to the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.
People can report further graffiti and other problems on www.fixmystreet.com
