THE DURBAN North SAPS is appealing to residents to come forward with any information to help to identify and apprehend graffiti vandals who sprayed their tags all over a Telkom box on the corner of Adelaid Thambo Drive (Kensington) and Mackeurtan Avenue.

The words ‘bomb squad’ and the artists’ names were sprayed in black and gold all over the box.

A number of electricity boxes, including one on Maryland Avenue, have been targeted, but police say they are not sure if the cases are related.

Lt Raymond Deokaran, spokesman for the Durban North station, said if caught, the vandals would be charged with malicious damage to property.

“This is disrespectful. These people just go out and destroy other people’s property and there is no reason,” he said.

“We have arrested and charged a graffiti tagger who was handed over to us after we appealed for information. He had tagged several places around the area, including a pedestrian bridge over the M4, with his moniker ‘Siek’.

“In the latest cases we can’t make out the name of the vandal and we are appealing to local residents, or anyone who might recognise the words, to contact the police.”

Durban North ward councillor, Shaun Ryley, said this sort of vandalism ends up costing the ratepayers.

“It is understandably difficult for the authorities to monitor this activity with a lack of surveillance amenities. While some forms of graffiti are pleasing on the eye when they are found in an acceptable location, this type of tagging is nothing more than plain vandalism.

“The culprits, if caught, should be charged with malicious damage to property. It ultimately costs taxpayers’ and ratepayers’ money to have graffiti removed,” he said.