A group of young people picked the wrong place in Auckland to tag with graffiti - directly opposite the Police Communications Centre.
Police say a staff member who answers 111 calls was taking a break outside the centre about 12.30am on Wednesday when she was she was surprised to see four young people tagging a car.
After tagging the bonnet of an Audi in a car yard opposite they moved on to put graffiti on adjacent building.
The four ran off when they realised they had been spotted but were soon rounded up by police patrols, after which police said the young people were "discussing their actions with Auckland City officers".