Police hunt 'Sepk13' vandal amid rash of graffiti round town

A SPATE of graffiti spraying around New Milton, Barton and Milford has led to a police appeal for information about who is using the tag name ‘Sepk13’.

A high street beauty salon, businesses, beach huts, signs and benches have been among those targeted during the past week in the incidents involving tagging – a form of graffiti in which someone writes an artistic version of their call name.

Pictures of some of the vandalism were posted by officers on the New Milton Cops Facebook page as they called for people to come forward if they can help track down those responsible.

The tagging on a sign outside Vitality Day Spa in Station Road was reported in a post on Sunday afternoon.

Alongside a photo of it, local PCSO Alan McCaffery said: “Here's one for the kids/teenagers and for all you Mums and Dads out there, I want to know who the attached graffiti tag belongs to as this individual needs to be dealt with accordingly.

“Come on people give me a name. This is not acceptable to our already suffering businesses.

“Please leave messages for me on 101 or the http://mymsg.eu/8o6e site. No one will ever know as this will be in the strictest confidence.”

An image of New Forest District Council car park signs daubed with graffiti in Marine Drive along Barton clifftop was posted on Tuesday afternoon.

It stated that such “mindless” acts had been committed across the area.

This post by PCSO Samuel Troughton included a warning to whoever is responsible for the vandalism.

“We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour at all,” he said.

“If you are seen committing this crime by any of our officers or we receive information on who you are, you will be dealt with accordingly."

The post added: “P.S. You will also be receiving a fine as going out to commit crime is NOT ESSENTIAL TRAVEL.”

On Wednesday, PCSO McCaffery posted an image of a row of beach huts along Milford seafront which had been emblazoned with the tag. He branded those responsible for the vandalism "idiots".

People commenting on the Facebook posts reported seeing the tag at a number of other sites, including on a Virgin box in Copse Avenue; and on the toilets, a bench and a sign at Barton beach.

Anyone with information should contact Hampshire police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.