HOUSTON -- Graffiti is nothing new in northwest Houston. But some recent taggers have gotten the attention of Secret Service agents.

11 News spotted "Kill Obama" graffiti in at least five buildings.

"'Kill Obama,' that's no good," said Billy Batiste, who lives in the area. "The person who did that should be ashamed of themselves."

Someone spray-painted the anti-Obama graffiti overnight Thursday.

"I looked at it and I was like, huh?" said Tanesia Haggerty, another area resident. "Oh my gosh. How could somebody write that?"

A federal investigator said they take this very seriously and they're launching an investigation.

But our legal expert said this is not a violation of federal law.

11 NEWS

An 11 News viewer sent us this photo of the anti-Obama graffiti.

"All this amounts to under Texas law is malicious mischief and criminal trespass," said 11 News Legal expert Gerald Treece. "If they had said 'we love Obama' it'd be the same exact principles that someone is defacing property.

"It doesn't mean law enforcement just has to wait for something bad to happen," Treece said. "They are hot on the trail, I'm certain, of the people who are the authors of this type of crude vulgarity. But it's not by itself a federal offense."

"I don't understand. It's just crazy," said W'netia Wade.

Some people are taking offense and hope the graffiti is gone the next time they drive through the neighborhood.