Canoga Park, Los Angeles, CA – Police are investigating a vandalism spree targeting Jewish-owned businesses in the Topanga area for a potential hate crime link, the Los Angeles Police Department announced Monday.
Three businesses in the 20900 block of Victory Boulevard were targeted in the early morning hours Saturday. According to the LAPD, the crimes occurred around 3 a.m. when a suspect threw rocks and cement bricks at glass windows and doors of several vacant buildings.
The blocks and stones had messages written upon them.
“The rocks recovered had ‘Glory’ and ‘Pay Up’ written on them,” according to police to the LAPD.
Two days later between 1 and 4 a.m. Monday, the same suspect vandalized businesses on Vanowen Street, Topanga Canyon Boulevard, and Sherman Way all within a two-mile radius.
Each time, the suspect fled on foot or bicycle.
Detectives are also working to determine if additional acts of vandalism in the same area on Friday and Sunday are linked to the same suspect.
The LAPD Major Crimes Division was investigating to determine if the vandalism has an anti-Semitic motive.
Police described the male suspect as a 5 foot 8 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds with balding gray hair, and possibly has a beard. He was last seen on Monday wearing a green Nike sweatshirt, black pants and white Nike shoes.
A photo of the suspect was released to the public in hopes of additional victims to come forward.
Anyone with information on vandalism was urged to contact LAPD Major Crimes Detectives Beard or Patin at 213-486-7280. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. During non-business hours or weekends, calls should be directed to 877-527-3247.
