NYPD: Suspects Seen Spray Painting Swastika On Synagogue
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are looking for suspects who they say were caught on camera spray painting the door of a synagogue.
It happened around 5 a.m. Wednesday.
Police said the suspects, described only as males, were first seen on surveillance video heading towards the Sutton Place Synagogue on East 51st Street. They were then seen spray painting a pink swastika on the synagogue's door, police said.
Rabbi Racel Ain said there is no permanent damage to the synagogue and the graffiti has since been removed.
"It is hard to believe and extremely hurtful to think that someone walks around with that level of hatred in their heart," Ain wrote on Facebook. "The only way to combat hatred is to stand together, pray together and love each other."
A police cruiser continues to stand guard outside of the synagogue.
"It's disturbing on my block here in Midtown, it's just not something that I've ever seen before," one resident told 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck. "Even if they were just screwing around because they just closed down a bar it's just not something to do."
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS or for Spanish 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.