The graffiti, with at least three individiual tags, was on the post office, an Orange City Council wall planned for a mural and one shop’s windows on Monday morning.

Instead of the usual spray paint the graffiti appeared to have been scrawled with marker pens.

Canobolas Local Area Command Chief Inspector Peter Atkins said police would examine CCTV footage and check their data base of graffiti tags.

He said it was a serious offence with the charge of malicious damage.

“We would call on anyone who has any information to contact us,” he said.

Vivid Black shop owner Lauren Oliver said it was the first time her windows had been graffitied.

“It’s actually disappointing. I’m sure they could have better things to do.”

Council spokesman Nick Redmond said preparation work had just been completed on the mural wall.

“It’s disappointing that further resources will now have to be spent on more preparation work,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Australia Post said the graffiti would be cleaned off soon.