http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25430858-13762,00.htmlA PLAGUE of cryptic stickers plastered across the city has sparked fears Melbourne is the latest victim of a baffling international graffiti craze.
The rash of rectangular white stickers with "BNE WAS HERE" in bold, black letters appeared across the CBD and inner suburbs in recent weeks.
Parking meters, bins, walls, windows and bus stops are among the targets, the Herald Sun reports.
The annoying adhesive markers have previously invaded cities including New York, Tokyo, Madrid, Bangkok and Prague.
Crime-fighters worldwide have struggled to decipher the secret message behind the labels, with no definitive answer on exactly who or what BNE is.
San Francisco's mayor was so enraged by the stickers across his city he offered a $3500 reward for the culprit's capture.
But Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle yesterday ruled out offering a bounty.
A spokesman for the mayor said Mr Doyle did not want to give the offender any publicity for fear of encouraging more sticker strikes.
Victoria Police are believed to be seeking information from overseas law enforcement agencies on the possible identity of the mysterious pest.
Various internet sites have sprung up to catalogue pictures of the stickers in victim cities.
Newspapers and bloggers overseas have speculated widely about who or what BNE is, but with no firm answer.
Stickers applied in Tokyo had "BNE" with Asian characters underneath, prompting speculation of a campaign to promote flights between Brisbane and Tokyo. BNE is the international code for Brisbane Airport.
Brisbane Airport Corporation spokesman Jim Carden said yesterday the stickers would be a good viral marketing tool - if only he had thought of it.
"There's no secret we're trying to take passengers and tourists from Melbourne airport," he said. "But the stickers aren't ours."
The labels were first noticed in the US in 2005 and have travelled worldwide since.
A Perth-based bio-medical company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange under the code BNE yesterday also denied involvement with the stickers.
Bone Medical Limited chief financial officer Ed Daquino said he wished the company was attracting such prominence in Melbourne - and around the world.
The company's products were still in the clinical trial phase and were not ready to be promoted, Mr Daquino said.
A PLAGUE of cryptic stickers plastered across the city has sparked fears Melbourne is the latest victim of a baffling international graffiti craze.
The rash of rectangular white stickers with "BNE WAS HERE" in bold, black letters appeared across the CBD and inner suburbs in recent weeks.
Parking meters, bins, walls, windows and bus stops are among the targets, the Herald Sun reports.
The annoying adhesive markers have previously invaded cities including New York, Tokyo, Madrid, Bangkok and Prague.
Crime-fighters worldwide have struggled to decipher the secret message behind the labels, with no definitive answer on exactly who or what BNE is.
San Francisco's mayor was so enraged by the stickers across his city he offered a $3500 reward for the culprit's capture.
But Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle yesterday ruled out offering a bounty.
A spokesman for the mayor said Mr Doyle did not want to give the offender any publicity for fear of encouraging more sticker strikes.
Victoria Police are believed to be seeking information from overseas law enforcement agencies on the possible identity of the mysterious pest.
Various internet sites have sprung up to catalogue pictures of the stickers in victim cities.
Newspapers and bloggers overseas have speculated widely about who or what BNE is, but with no firm answer.
Stickers applied in Tokyo had "BNE" with Asian characters underneath, prompting speculation of a campaign to promote flights between Brisbane and Tokyo. BNE is the international code for Brisbane Airport.
Brisbane Airport Corporation spokesman Jim Carden said yesterday the stickers would be a good viral marketing tool - if only he had thought of it.
"There's no secret we're trying to take passengers and tourists from Melbourne airport," he said. "But the stickers aren't ours."
The labels were first noticed in the US in 2005 and have travelled worldwide since.
A Perth-based bio-medical company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange under the code BNE yesterday also denied involvement with the stickers.
Bone Medical Limited chief financial officer Ed Daquino said he wished the company was attracting such prominence in Melbourne - and around the world.
The company's products were still in the clinical trial phase and were not ready to be promoted, Mr Daquino said.
Subject: Baffling BNE WAS HERE craze hits streets of Melbourne 
May 5th 2009, 12:18 am