Police accuse Ian Debeer, 21, also allegedly known as graffiti writer HERT, of causing $212,000 in damages in Pittsburgh.
Police said they had confiscated a total of $3,000 worth of spray paint cans, respirators, bags of custom-designed nozzles and books about graffiti from Debeer's apartment.
Authorities are increasingly using postings on MySpace and Facebook to track down alleged graffiti vandals.
But graffiti writers are also getting more creative. Writer RIZE in Danbury is using acidic solutions such as "Etch Bath" and "Armor Etch-All" to corrode glass so his tag appears as a milky-white stain on windows and doors.
Not at war in Sacramento, a business association is allowing graffiti writers to paint on certain walls this weekend.
"People doing tagging are just people fighting anonymity," said a former Sacramento councilman.
For other trouble youth according to this Chicago report pursuing graffiti is an opportunity to stay away from engaging in more severe crimes. As my grandmother would say: "Esta complicada la cosa."
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