Aug 19, 2010 10:40 pm US/Eastern

Police Classify City Vandalism As Hate Crime

BALTIMORE (WJZ) ― Police have video of two suspects they believe
are responsible for vandalizing vehicles in a Jewish neighborhood [Park Heights] with anti-semitic slogans.

Suzanne Collins reports a police commander briefed concerned citizens Thursday night at a Jewish community center.

Police announced Thursday they are classifying the incident as a hate crime, and the FBI has been alerted.

There is an annual family gathering at Moshe Lazewnik's house in Northwest Baltimore to remember ancestors killed in the Holocaust.

Ironically, over the weekend he found the van he drives spray painted with anti-Jewish graffiti, swastikas and the name Hitler.

"I felt upset, a little scared, a little sad. I'm hoping it'll stop happening, a one time thing," said Lazewnik.

A short time before the vandalism Lazewnik says some youth shouted heil Hitler at him as he walked by, and there was another incident a while back.

"We got a rock through our window two months ago, and that really scared us," said Lazewnik.

Over the weekend, six white vans, all belonging to Jewish people, were vandalized with anti-semitic references.

Thursday night, members of that neighborhood came to a meeting with the police commander.

"Now the video shows there are two individuals who we believe may be juveniles," said Dep. Major Sabrina Tapp-Harper, Northwest District.

Police announced Thursday they have leads.

"If it's a hate crime, it has stiffer laws which hopefully make sure it won't happen again," said Art Abramson, Baltimore Jewish Council.

One woman who also had her van scrawled with Hitler's name, considers it more than simple vandalism.

"Personally, my grandfather lost his entire family in the Holocaust, so Hitler is a very evil, nasty man in my book," said Elana Grayman.

The people who came to the meeting were re-assured by police that there will be more patrols, especially during the upcoming Jewish holidays.

The police commissioner plans to meet with the Jewish community next Wednesday to further discuss their concerns.

http://wjz.com/local/graffiti.hate.crime.2.1869792.html

My take: Whenever I see backwards and/or poorly drawn swastikas spray-painted on jewish property, it's almost a foregone conclusion that jews themselves did it, while playing the hate-crime card.