‘Swastika vandalism spree’ under investigation in New Westminster

A photo shows the back of a New Westminster police officer's jacket. (Twitter, New Westminster Police Department)

Police in New Westminster are trying to identify the person responsible for a “swastika vandalism spree” in the city.

The first incident was reported on Oct. 4, after a man found his vehicle had been vandalized overnight while parked on the 1100 block of Nanaimo Street, the New Westminster Police Department said in a statement Thursday.

“While investigating the vandalism, officers located an additional vehicle that had been vandalized,” the statement said.

Two days later, another person reported their vehicle had been vandalized while parked on the same block of Nanaimo Street.

“Seeing symbols of hate appear in our community is deeply disturbing,” New Westminster Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Andrew Leaver said in the statement.

“This kind of vandalism has no place in New Westminster. We take these incidents seriously and are working to find whoever is responsible.”

Investigators have reviewed CCTV video and notified the provincial hate crime unit but no suspects have been identified.

Anyone with information can contact the NWPD at 604-525-5411.