'Idiot' graffiti bombers cause $20,000 damage to Auckland train

Police are searching for the group who 'graffiti-bombed' an Auckland train. Photo / Supplied

Police are searching for a group of "idiots" who "graffiti-bombed" an Auckland train with passengers trapped inside.

Commuters watched helplessly from inside the train as the group caused $20,000 of damage in mere minutes.

The emergency brake was pulled to stop the train at the Meadowbank station at 7am on February 24. Police released CCTV footage of the graffiti attack last night.

"These idiots caused approximately $20,000 worth of damage - at the expense of ratepayers - when they graffiti-bombed the train at Meadowbank station," Sergeant Grant Harris said.

The vandals caused an estimated $20,000 worth of damage to the train. Image / Police

"We know there will be people out there who know, or can identify, those involved in this CCTV footage."

Several of the taggers are wearing video cameras on their heads and likely filmed their attack on the train.

In September a masked gang of around 12 spray-painted a huge "graffiti bomb" in broad daylight on a train's exterior at the Baldwin Ave station in Mt Albert.

The vandals caused $20,000 in damage to the train in mere minutes. Image / Police

A spokesman for Auckland Transport said the group hit the train's safety button, which immobilises the train, allowing the vandals enough time to spray-paint it.

Passengers were trapped in the carriage, which filled with fumes from the spray cans being used to graffiti the train.

Auckland Transport spokesman James Ireland said in the 2016/17 financial year vandalism on trains cost ratepayers $1,297,590.

"It is a major inconvenience to train passengers and a financial burden on the ratepayer," Ireland said.

AT provided CCTV footage to police whenever it happened.

As soon as one of the trains was vandalised it was taken off the network, and taken to the train wash facility at the Wiri depot.

A film coating on the trains meant paint easily washed off.

"We aim for the lowest number of people possible to see the vandalism," Ireland said.