Graffiti defaces Wilmington school

WILMINGTON, De. - January 28, 2008 School officials say they feel invaded.

Someone did invade the campus with a can black spray paint, 13 times in 13 different places.

It is called tagging and Delaware State Police do not take it lightly.

"We have every intention of prosecuting any individual that we identify having defaced any property, whether it's St. Edmonds or the Fairfax shopping center, we're not going to put up with it," Cpl. Jefferey Whitmarsh said.

The graffiti was discovered Monday morning by parents and staff.

"It hasn't ever happened here before, so it's kind of a surprise that someone would do that," Michelle Foster, a parent, said.

"It was a little disheartening and obviously a little annoying to realize that something like that happened on your property, especially since throughout the weekend we had a lot of activities on Friday, Saturday evening, Sunday and Sunday evening," Assistant Headmaster Bill D'amato said.

Thanks to hidden surveillance cameras, it won't take investigators long to figure out exactly when the graffiti was written on the school's walls. The suspect is not believed to be a student.

Cpl. Whitmarsh says that the pictures will be electronically enhanced.

"We're going to be looking at those images. If we discern or identify who these people are then they better be standing by because we're going to be knocking on their door and they'll be facing charges of criminal mischief," Cpl. Whitmarsh.

Due to the extent of the damages, police say those charges are likely to be serious felonies.