Police seek help with tagging epidemic

Taggers are causing damage and concern in Ngaruawahia.

Northern Waikato Police are seeking the public's assistance in locating a group of taggers which has caused thousands of dollars worth of damage to homes, businesses, public places and a Police car.

Detective Russell Crawford of the Huntly-Ngaruawahia CIB said several locations around Ngaruawahia had been targeted by taggers recently.

"Locations damaged include a bridge on SH1, The Point, the Lifestyle Physiotherapy building, a fence at the Ngaruawahia Primary School, several people's homes on Waikato Esplanade and an unmarked patrol car parked outside Ngaruawahia's police station.

"The latest incident saw public toilets on SH1 in the centre of town targeted. These toilets are in a prominent location and visible to thousands of motorists transiting the Waikato each day. These tags are unsightly and are the wrong image local residents wish to portray to visitors to our region."

Mr Crawford said police wanted to hear from anyone with any information on who the tag names belonged to or on the identities of those responsible.

"A number of young people were seen near the places tagged, but only very generalised descriptions were provided.  The most identifiable evidence left at these scenes is the personalised tag names of Rek, Huslr Bng and Freeman."

"The names will be known by members of the Ngaruawahia community, who will know the taggers true identities and we would very like to speak to those people who know who was responsible."

Mr Crawford urged community members to work with police in not only identifying those responsible for the more recent incidents but also in preventing further attacks.

"At this family focused time of year no-one should have to be distracted with the need to clean up the mess of someone else's tagging. Such damage is expensive to repair and sends the wrong message about what the Ngaruawahia community is all about and that is looking after one another."

Anyone recognising the tag signatures or who knows who is responsible is asked to contact Constable Norm McIntosh at the Ngaruawahia Police on Ph 07 824 8199 or information can be left anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.