Smiley face graffiti under investigation

The smiley face graffiti that is popping up around Berkley is not making the community happy.

The images, along with apologies in some cases, have shown up on the Masonic Temple and at , both on 11 Mile Road, as well as at , on the ' gates and on the brick wall behind Oxford Park Towers.

Murray Built Construction owner Bob Murray said his building was defaced multiple times during the holiday period.

The first smiley face appeared on the back wall of his business around Christmas, he said, and his son dutifully spray-painted over it. The vandals responded by printing, in black letters, "sorry about your wall," Murray said. The third graffiti image on his building – another smiley face – showed up over New Year's weekend, he said. It has been painted over as well.

"It's just a bunch of kids," Murray said. "Slap 'em on the hand and get 'em outta here. I just don't want them breaking in."

The  received several malicious destruction of property reports stemming from the spray-painted images Sunday and Monday nights, Sgt. Mike Crum said Tuesday.

"Somebody's gotta know something," said Crum, who urged anyone with information to contact the Public Safety Department. He said tipsters can call the dispatch line at 248-658-3380 or, if they'd prefer to speak with a detective, they can dial 248-658-3390.

"Really, we just want it to stop and we want to get it cleaned up," Crum said. "It's not real good for our community."