Further graffiti damage in Kadina during the last two weeks has added to the growing number of local business operators facing major clean up bills.
"We haven't got enough foot patrols, there just aren't enough police at night, and they haven't got the manpower", says businessman, Stephen Papps, from the Royal Exchange Hotel, one of a number of businesses most recently affected.
He points to a growing problem, too, of underage youths congregating in and around Graves Street late on Friday and Saturday nights. "I don't know what the solution really is. You can't really blame the kids, it's the parents who need to be more aware."
Nearby businesses are also cleaning up with one reporting repair costs around $1,000. "It's not just one part of a wall you have to repaint, it's the whole wall which has to be done."
Another Kadina business operator said, while more police would be nice, they couldn't be on watch all the time.
In the past two months, businesses in both the central and industrial areas of Kadina have been affected as well as community facilities at Wallaroo and Moonta.
Police have made a number of arrests. Three people, all from Adelaide, were recently apprehended in connection with graffiti on the tourist train at Wallaroo. The three, of whom two were aged over 20, were found with 35 spray cans in their possession.
Several other alleged offenders (YP youths) have also been arrested in relation to incidents in Kadina and Moonta in recent weeks.
Community facilities are also regular subjects for graffiti.
"It's not unusual on a Monday morning to have six men working on cleaning up graffiti", says Roly Kavanagh, Works Manager, District Council of the Copper Coast. He estimates the cost of removing graffiti since the beginning of the year is around $15,000.
"We are continuing our policy of cleaning up a site as quickly as possible.
"Often, it's necessary to replace signs completely rather than try and clean them. We have graffiti proof treatments on some buildings but to cover everything would just be too costly."
Public toilets, the skate park shed at Moonta (built by local volunteers) have all been daubed.
Lack of youth amenities to combat boredom, insufficient parental supervision Ñ whatever the causes, graffiti damage is proving costly for business and community alike.