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Mystery surrounds the identity of a sign bandit in Napier who has been changing dozens of street names into crude words for months without being nabbed.

So far the handiwork has cost ratepayers more than $5000 for repairs.

Residents say the culprit might feel like a practical joker, but their tampering isn’t funny.

Taradale resident Jo Coffin thought someone was having a laugh when she saw a post about her street name on social media.

“I live in Cornwall Rd, but in the post it said Pornwall Rd. I just thought it was a joke,” Coffin said.

“But no, it’s real.”

A Napier City Council spokesperson said the vandalism was happening throughout the network, but Taradale appeared to be the latest target.

So far the vandalism has cost ratepayers about $5700 to fix.

The spokesperson said the spate of tampering started in August and since then the council had replaced 30 street signs.

The rate of vandalism was climbing, the spokesperson said.

“An average double-sided street name blade costs around $190 plus GST depending on size and length of the street name.”

Coffin said she was expecting visitors from overseas when the sign was changed to Pornwall Rd.

“It’s kind of embarrassing telling them to look for a street name like that,” she said.

“Replacing signs because of behaviour like this is not a good use of taxpayers’ money.”

Sharon McNiece, who owns EIMI, a pre-loved clothing shop in Taradale, said it was not funny.

“It’s blatant, unnecessary exposure to crude words. Street signs don’t go unnoticed.”

ArtyAz shop owner Terri Dangen said most people would automatically think it’s teenagers.

“But I don’t think you would get a group of teenagers standing around scoping out suitable signs and traffic flow,” Dangen said.

“I’m leaning towards males 30 years and upwards.

“Whoever was responsible might think it’s a practical joke, but it’s at the expense of the community.”

Napier City Council said the matter had been raised with police.

A police spokesperson said they hadn’t been able to locate any reports in relation to the matter, but it “would likely have been noted for intel purposes”.

Other changes to street-sign names seen by Local Democracy Reporting, including one in Kent Tce, were deemed unfit for publication.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.