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Group of vandals film themselves smashing glass door at Bayside community center

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Photo by Suzanne Monteverdi/Inset courtesy KCS

Police are looking to question a group of individuals who vandalized a Bayside community center on Saturday night.

On March 3 at around 8 p.m., multiple individuals were observed on security camera outside of the Korean Community Services center at 203rd Street and 32nd Avenue.

One of the suspects, who is described by police as a white male, is observed throwing unknown objects at the center’s front glass door and then kicking it in.

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The individuals fled the scene in an unknown direction. The incident was reported to the 111th Precinct.

There have been no arrests and the investigation is ongoing, law enforcement sources said. The suspect seen kicking in the door was last seen wearing a white jacket, pants and shoes and a black hat.

Linda Lee, executive director of the center, said she first believed the damage to the door was due to Friday’s strong nor’easter. However, upon viewing footage from the center’s security camera, Lee confirmed that the damage was the work of vandals.

The executive director said the group of young people could be seen on camera filming themselves during the act.

This is not the first act of vandalism the center has sustained, Lee noted. In recent months, there have been two graffiti incidents. In another incident, an individual threw a vodka bottle through one of the center’s windows.

On March 6, QNS observed that the damaged glass door was repaired.

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The Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York (KCS) moved into the building in spring 2017. The site was formerly home to the Bayside Jewish Center.

Anyone with information regarding the vandalism can call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential.

Those with information may also call the 111th Precinct at 718-279-5200.