Including Signs Of Hate And Bias—

Police Receive 15 Reports Of Halloween-Period Vandalism

By Andrew Gorosko

From October 30 through November 2, police received complaints on 15 cases of vandalism occurring in town, resulting in investigations into the property damage.

In two cases, however, that vandalism turned ugly, involving instances of inflammatory symbols and words being spray-painted onto surfaces.

The extent of Halloween-period vandalism was comparable to past years, said police Sergeant Christopher Vanghele.

At an Oakview Road address, someone used black spray paint at a property, defacing it with a swastika and with derogatory racial comments, he said. The owner had the damage removed at a cost of about $100, the sergeant said.

On Park Lane, an unknown vandal used white spray paint to place a swastika on the pavement, he said. Also, someone spray-painted racial remarks and “End Women’s Rights Now” on a garbage can and on the pavement, respectively, he said.

On Little Brook Lane, someone used purple spray paint to deface a parked truck, he said.

Police investigated the cases of inflammatory graffiti and determined that the defacements were random acts and were not directed at the individuals living at the addresses that received the vandalism, the sergeant said.

Although such acts may fall into the category of “bias crimes,” there apparently was no specific person or persons targeted by the vandals, he said. Municipal police are required to report such incidents to the state, he added.

Besides the cases of spray-painted graffiti, other Halloween-period vandalism included eggs being thrown at houses and mailboxes being damaged, the sergeant said.

Areas that reported vandalism from the period of October 30 through November 2 included Main Street, Ashford Lane, Boggs Hill Road, Sugar Street, Russett Road, Pole Bridge Road, Great Ring Road, Buttonball Drive, Marlin Road, The Boulevard, Papoose Hill Road, and Phyllis Lane, according to police logbook entries.