Investigators Probe Pacific Palisades Hate Crime After 8 Cars Are Marred With Swastikas
PACIFIC PALISADES (CBSLA.com) — Authorities in Pacific Palisades are investigating a hate crime after a vandal, or vandals, targeted and tagged eight vehicles with swastikas.
KCAL9's Melanie Woodrow spoke to some of the people whose cars were vandalized.
"There's nothing sicker," said Maritza Ramon-Roberts.
She discovered her car has been vandalized while standing with her 10-year-old daughter.
"My daughter started crying, she was extremely upset," said Ramon-Roberts. "It's horrible I am forced to have this conversation with my daughter."
"I was feeling, why would someone do that. It's not a right thing to do," said Juliana Roberts.
A LAPD watch commander told Woodrow there were at least seven different victims with one person having two cars marked.
All of the vehicles were parked on the street.
Most of the cars were Prii (the plural of the Prius, according to Toyota) and police told Woodrow they don't believe that is a coincidence.
Officials believe the cars were vandalized between 6 and 10 a.m. Sunday.
Given the 4-5 mile radius of where the various cars were hit, police believe the suspect, or suspects, were in a car.
Matt Lieberman told Woodrow that he is grateful his 4-year-old is too young to understand the meaning of the swastika.
All Lieberman could do is express disbelief.
"Shock. I was not expecting this. Definitely not around here," he said.
The suspect used blue and gold-colored spray paints, a possible coincidence but also the colors of Hannukah. The first day of Hannukah is Thursday.
The cars that were vandalized were in the 500 block of Casas, the 1200 block of Monument and the 16400 block of Sunset, said police.
Police don't have any suspect information. But the vandal or vandals have made for a more vigilant neighborhood.
Ramon-Roberts has already purchased a security/surveillance system.
"I am determined to make sure nothing like this happens again, and for my daughter especially -- I don't want her to experience something like this again."
