Dunedin awoke yesterday to find street art and Ed Sheeran had again been targeted by vulgar spray-painted graffiti referencing Dunedin band Coyote.
The words "ED IS DED [sic] LONG LIVE COYOTE 666" had been spray-painted underneath the Princes St artwork Riding Dreams by Italian artist Pixel Pancho, which depicts a boy riding a large mechanical horse, painted on the side of the Chipmunks building.
On nearby Manse St, "ED IS DEAAD [sic] COYOTE F** U" was spray-painted on the same wall as another large piece of street art, Song Bird Pipe Organ by British artist Phlegm.
The vandalism comes after a Chorus communications box featuring a tribute to Dunedin band The Chills was defaced in February. An expletive-laden video later surfaced appearing to show Coyote band members scribbling over the name The Chills and writing the name of their band underneath.
Responding to messages from the Otago Daily Times to the band’s Facebook page asking if they had been approached by police about the graffiti, an unidentified Coyote member said ‘‘they told me they think it’s cool and to do more’’.
A police spokeswoman rejected the band’s claim, but said she was not aware of any complaints about the four graffiti attacks and police were not investigating. A Dunedin City Council spokeswoman said they were not aware of the attacks, and referred questions to the Dunedin Street Art Trust. The Trust refused to comment.
• Dunedin police (03)471-4800, Crimestoppers 0800-555-111
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How the heck can the Police 'not be investigating'. You have picture evidence, and in some cases video evidence of this CRIME happening, do your job and find the culprits before they keep mutilating the cities artwork!