OXFORD – The Oxford Police Department concluded a two-month investigation this week after identifying two Oxford youths allegedly responsible for painting graffiti on several area businesses.

According to Oxford Police Chief Rich Nolan, the two youths, ages 16 and 17, have been vandalizing businesses with graffiti for nearly two months. During that time, Nolan said several businesses and one residence in Oxford have been targeted. The youths reportedly spray painted graffiti on the historic train depot building and the shed, the Oxford Department of Public Works building, a church on Main Street, the Agway building on Mechanic Street, an old switch tower, a stop sign and one residence. At each site, the youths reportedly wrote the letters “SH.”

Last week, police were able to catch the two youths after the 17-year-old reportedly spray painted the doors of the Oxford middle and high schools. Nolan explained that most of the sites for the graffiti were picked at random, but at the school, the 17-year-old reportedly sprayed the doors of both buildings red and black and left an “alarming, harassment message” for the high school principal. The 17-year-old was reportedly the only one responsible for the middle school and high school graffiti. After spray painting the schools, the 17-year-old reportedly stole a bicycle and rode away from the crime scene.