Information provided by a Harvard Police detective helped State Police capture a man who defaced thousands of dollars worth of Cambridge-area property over several years.

After a request from the State Police for information regarding other graffiti offenses, Harvard detective Paul Westlund contacted the State Police concerning an arrest bearing some similarities that he had made four years ago. The information helped lead to the arrest of John A. Moruzzi, 20, of Cambridge, on 70 counts of malicious destruction of property.

The break in the case came after a two-year investigation of spray painting of various buildings, bridges, fences, signs, and street poles in the Cambridge area.

Evidence seized included dozens of spray cans, underground "tagging" magazines, and surgical gloves.