Police have arrested a North Canterbury man accused of carrying out more than five hundred tags across Kaikoura, Canterbury and Dunedin.

The 23 year old is due to appear in the Christchurch District Court on Friday, charged with entering agricultural land with intent and wilful damage for graffiti.

Senior Sergeant Stephen McDaniel said police were pleased to have the prolific offender off the streets.

“Not only was the offender spray painting his tag everywhere, he was also taking videos of his offending and posting them to social media and benefitting from the notoriety,” he said.

Police say the offending tag was found on public bridges, toilets, walls, rubbish bins, walkways, light posts, former gun emplacements, train tracks, water tanks and drainage pipes.

“The offending leaves a lasting piece of graffiti on the public structures, and in some instances the offender has spray painted the same spot after councils have cleaned up their prior graffiti,” McDaniel said.

“Graffiti or tagging is considered as intentionally damaging property, and we will hold offenders to account.”

Police are asking anyone who sees illegal graffiti occurring to contact them.

Call 111 if it is happening in front of you, or 105 if it has already occurred.