ATTLEBORO -  Mayor Kevin Dumas has ordered access to city hall’s second floor cut off at closing time every day after a vandal slipped upstairs and scrawled threatening graffiti in the unguarded area Thursday night while a zoning board meeting was in session on the first floor.

The second floor can be reached through two doors, one in the front of the building and one in the back.

Dumas said from now on, both doors will be locked when city hall shuts down for the day at 4:30 p.m.

The alleged vandal, Lindsay Devnew, 51, of 48 Dunham St., was arraigned Monday in Attleboro District Court, and was charged with tagging, uttering threats to commit a crime and trespassing.

He allegedly told city Veteran’s Agent Peter Rego he could have "burned the city hall" unimpeded.

Devnew is a veteran and is known to Rego, who described him as disgruntled because he was denied some veteran’s benefits.

Devnew, pleaded innocent and was ordered held in jail on $250 cash bail.

The vandalism was discovered Friday morning by city employees.

The word "Burn" was written on a map of Attleboro and "Death" was written on a sign on the second floor. The word "Gravy" was written on a calendar in the cafeteria, police said.

It’s not known exactly when the vandalism occurred.

Dumas said employees and boards who use city hall for public meetings after regular hours will be asked to keep a sharper eye on who comes and goes.

All outside door locks will be checked to make sure they work properly, he said.

A break in the case came when Rego ran into Devnew Friday afternoon outside city hall.

Rego said he suspected Devnew because of the words "Peter work 50 cents" that were written at one spot. He alleged that Devnew used those words earlier in a conversation with him.

Rego said Devnew admitted to the vandalism when they met outside city hall.

Devnew boasted of his military career and threatened arson, Rego said.

"You know what I’m capable of. I’ve been trained to sneak in and out of places. I could’ve burned the city hall, and no one would have stopped me," Rego said Devnew told him.

Rego quietly told another city employee to call police while he was talking to Devnew, he said.

Rego said the breach in security is a big concern. Sometimes people work late and alone, he said.

"This is serious stuff," he said.

The incident was investigated by Officer Michael MacNeil.

Devnew is due back in court on April 9.