Cape police investigate five graffiti reports

Cape Girardeau police continue to investigate a rash of vandalism across town that began over the weekend and continued Monday.

Messages like "Killing our own for oil" and "vanity is not a commodity" were spray-painted across the overpass of the Cape LaCroix Recreational Trail, area businesses and private property.

Five separate incidents of property damage were reported in Cape Girardeau, but even more people may have been victims of the graffiti artists and chosen not to report it to police, said police spokesman Sgt. Barry Hovis.

Each instance of graffiti had the signature of either "Ninja" or "Renegade." The graffiti appeared to be taunting authorities with words like "though they will never find us," Hovis said.

"Typically, this type of behavior is done by teenagers," Hovis said.

Profanity adorned several of the defaced walls.

Police took photographs of the graffiti and are trying to find a common denominator between the acts of vandalism to determine if the two signatures are by the same person, Hovis said.

"We'll compare them and see if any of the common tendencies match up," he said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245