Franklin police seeking spray-paint vandals; Number of graffiti incidents on cars, homes increases dramatically

Blue spray-painted lines and symbols showed the path someone took through downtown Franklin this summer, causing damage to residents’ property along the way.

Franklin Police Department officials say the city has not had a graffiti problem in at least a decade, but vandals armed with spray-paint cans have been marking cars, homes and signs since June this year.

Since the beginning of June, nearly 40 residents have told police their property was damaged with paint or spray paint, a massive increase over the five residents who reported graffiti in 2011, according to police department reports.

Police say one person is most likely responsible for the increase, but they do not have a suspect.

On June 2 and Aug. 17, a total of 26 residents told police their property had been defaced overnight, according to police reports. On both days, the reports were made by residents in the same downtown area, and the same blue spray-paint was used, Police Chief Tim O’Sullivan said.

This story appears in the print edition of Daily Journal. Subscribers can read the entire story online by signing in here or in our e-Edition by clicking here.