The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is looking for a vandal who sprayed anti-Semitic graffiti in Woodhaven just after midnight on Wednesday, Aug 14.
Police from the 102nd Precinct in Richmond Hill reported that the unidentified man was in the vicinity of 91st Street and Jamaica Avenue, where he used an aerosol can of black spray paint to leave swastikas at various locations along Jamaica Avenue before running off in an unknown direction. There were no injuries reported.
“My office was made aware of hate symbols appearing in Woodhaven,” Council Member Joann Ariola said. “This is absolutely unacceptable — hate has no home in District 32. The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force and the 102nd Precinct are conducting an investigation to find the individual responsible and the graffiti was removed.”
The NYPD released surveillance video that shows the suspect walking down Jamaica Avenue with the aerosol can in his right hand. The police described him as having a dark complexion with a slim build and a beard. He wore a striped polo shirt, gray sweatpants and a black backpack.
“We must stand united and send a clear message to those who wish to intimidate members of our community: nobody should be afraid to live here because of their race or religion,” Ariola said. “This kind of hate will not be tolerated.”
Anyone with information regarding this aggravated harassment investigation is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
Through Aug. 25, the 102nd Precinct has reported four hate crimes so far in 2024, the same number of incidents reported at the same point last year, according to the most recent CompStat report.
