Cars, public toilets, a church and other buildings were covered in graffiti, including anti-Christian and anti-police slogans, in a vandalism attack in Waimate on Wednesday night.
Acting Sergeant Paul Alden, of Waimate, said the vandals struck between 11pm and midnight.
It was still too early to say what the overall damage would cost to fix, but it would be more than $1000.
"It's going to take not just a lot of money, but people's time.''
Police were reviewing video footage to try to identify who the offender, or offenders, were.
He described the vandal attack as petty, but did not think the people responsible were targeting Christians.
"I imagine they thought it was something funny in their mind, but in reality it's pretty offensive.''
The vicar for the Waimate district, the Rev Indrea Alexander, said the church did not feel specially targeted.
"We simply washed it off and, as an act of neighbourliness, cleaned graffiti off the sign at the kindergarten next door as well.''
Nothing was damaged at the church.
Const Alden said he believed the attack was linked to similar vandalism after the racing event the Waimate 50 last year.
"It's the same sort of thing.
"There are two people the police are interested in talking to.''
● Waimate police (03) 689-7272, Crimestoppers 0800 555-111.
