Alleged graffiti artist arrested for tagging at Eastland, Ringwood police station
A young tagger who allegedly vandalised one of Melbourne’s biggest shopping centres and a police station in the outer east has finally been caught. See how he was tracked down.
Outer East
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One of Ringwood’s most prolific alleged taggers has finally been caught after he repeatedly evaded police and allegedly vandalised a shopping centre and a police station.
The alleged tagger has also been slapped with drug trafficking and gun possession charges.
Ringwood police Sergeant Ryan Davis said officers arrested a 21-year-old man of no fixed address near Eastland shopping centre on Sunday, October 18.
Sgt Davis said the man had been on officers’ radar this month after a string of graffiti incidents at the shopping centre and in nearby streets.
Sgt Davis said the incidents occurred over a two-week period with the same tag put in each location.
“The offender engaged in a cat-and-mouse game with Eastland security, being chased from the shopping complex several times,” Sgt Davis said.
“Police attended on several of these occasions, however the offender alluded arrest each time.
“His antics escalated to the point where he ‘tagged’ the Ringwood police station.”
Sgt Davis said officers tracked down a man alleged to be the offender on October 18 shortly after another incident at Eastland, with police surrounding the nearby house he had allegedly fled to.
He was arrested at the scene and charged with seven counts of criminal damage, along with alleged firearm possession and alleged trafficking of cannabis.
Sgt Davis said the man would face court at a later date.
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