Police in Christchurch say a new form of tagging in window etching has cost tens of thousands of dollars damage in the past few weeks.
The crime involves culprits scratching graffiti on to windows, with commercial businesses in the Lincoln Rd and Moorhouse Ave areas having been particularlyhard hit recently.
Constable David Woodbury from the Sydenham police said he wanted the public to help police try to establish who was responsible.
"I would estimate that the damage in the Moorhouse Ave/Lincoln Rd area in the past few weeks would be in excess of $50,000," Mr Woodbury said.
"These offences are serious, and are of great concern to local business owners."
He said while certain areas were being targeted, etching was happening all around the city.
The etches included the words RAW, WAR, MAKS and KO, with the R being back to front in some cases.
Mr Woodbury said some large sign-written windows could cost several thousand dollars alone to fix.
Police have photographs of an offender etching WAR onto a window in Addington and are keen to identify that person.
