Weapons and drugs found in raid

Rockingham police seized a homemade weapon, crossbow and drugs during a search warrant at a Rockingham home on July 22 as part of Operation Quadrangle, targeting graffiti.

Acting Senior Sergeant Dayna Rigoir said police seized a crossbow, arrows, a homemade sword, about 1.6g of cannabis and nine smoking implements from the property.

She said the warrant was issued for criminal damage by graffiti and resulted in three males, aged 18, 23 and 24, facing a string of charges including possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Sen. Sgt Rigoir said the 24-year-old was charged with three counts of criminal damage by graffiti, after his tag was allegedly found on Western Power light poles and a City of Rockingham bus directional sign.

She said Senior Constable Natalie Greatwood was "instrumental" in the operation, having worked closely with the City of Rockingham to learn where the graffiti hotspots were and identify the unique tags used.

"We do not condone this behaviour," she said. "Simple offences like graffiti can lead to other finds and more serious charges."

In addition to the July 22 raid, a second search warrant was executed in Port Kennedy on July 25, after the 22-year-old occupant's tag was reported 17 times on the Goodbye Graffiti website.

The occupant was not home at the time of the warrant but graffiti-related items and drawings of the tag, reported on the website, were found at the property.

Sen. Sgt Rigoir said inquiries were continuing. She said as part of the operation, extra police patrols took place around hotspots, and community engagement with schools taught students that graffiti is criminal offence and explained the court process.