Removing Graffiti Tagging

What better to have happen at 6:10 PM on a Friday evening/holiday weekend. Not a major problem, just one of those little niggling issues which challenge property management company owners.

We just received a call from the president of a client condo association, their pole mounted ten unit mailbox was graffiti tagged last night. They would like to have the mailbox repainted tomorrow, which I will advise them will not happen as while a few coats of spray paint will correct the problem now, it will also create an enduring maintenance item. The original finishes are anodized or baked on for longevity. Besides, I don't know what the post office policies are regarding mailbox maintenance and there is no realistic way to find out before Monday.

One of the units is listed for sale and has showings tomorrow, hence the urgency.

So, have any of you had experience with a product which will remove the handiwork of the local artists? This may be as simple as a quick trip to the local big box hardware establishment but I'd prefer to use a product some of you may have had experience with. We planned to review our clients in that area Monday but can easily move the review up to tomorrow. We will remove the paint if we can obtain the correct product.

Thanks for your advice

Look for a organization called Graffiti Buster or similar. This is RIGHT up their alley.

You also may want to contact the postal inspectors. The Post office has basically their own "Police" department. We had mail being stolen from our boxes. We had to go through the postal department to get it handled. So your local police good place to start but they may not be able to do much if it falls under the post office.

Take pictures of the said graffiti and file a police report at the station and give a copy of the picture to the police. The police keep a database on graffiti tags for reference and as tool to prosecute offenders.
Goof Off comes is a little can that works wonders cleaning spray paint off powder coated surfaces without damaging the powder coated surface. Personally I don't think the Post Office would get whiny if you cleaned graffiti off the box for them. I still would visit your local postoffice and talk to the station superintended and get permission. Yes you want to clean this up ASAP so these taggers don't take over the neighborhood.

I had forgotten all about this post regarding graffiti tagging, not surprising since it was nearly four years ago and I don't recall what I had for breakfast this morning. Wait, I didn't have breakfast.

First, thanks to all of you who responded four years ago. We visited the property loaded for bear with your suggested products which claim to remove paint and other stuff (in the handy spray bottle version, generally yellow), paint thinner, one or two somethings else, as well as the environmentally friendly uncomplicated green product, and, finally, the sun is coming up dish washing product in a spray bottle.

Much to our surprise we found the taggers must have used the marking paint used by the utility locate company as the green product and the dish soap took care of cleaning up the mess. To our much greater surprise one of the owners saw what we were doing and came out to help.

Our advice is to start with the product which is the most mild and easiest to clean up then move up to stronger products if necessary.