Criminal spray painting spree hits Hamilton

HAMILTON, Ohio - Several Hamilton residents were busy cleaning up after vandals painted swastikas and obscenities on their cars, homes, and fences before dawn Wednesday.

Many cars were also ransacked, according to police, but it appears nothing was stolen.

The reports came from Lockwood and Douglas streets on the north side.

Police do not think the spree is gang related, and say accompanying initials "SLK" are probably someone's name.

Authorities and victims agree the criminal damaging was probably done by juveniles causing mischief.

"I don't believe the community needs to be alarmed by what was spray painted on the vehicles," said Hamilton Police Officer Kristie Collins. "Vulgar... language was used... which would lead us to believe it's probably teenagers."

Carl Thompson found a swastika on his car window when he got in it Wednesday morning.

"I don't put anything in that," he said. "It wipes right off."

Pat Brenner woke to find her garage door covered with vulgar slang and another swastika.

"Whoever did this was very maligning and evil," she said. "They were just cruel. I mean, they hit cars. Cars had swastikas on them. They covered the lady's license plates over there with black paint. It was just disgusting."

She was able to wash the graffiti off her door.

Because there were some many instances of the crime, police hope someone saw something and report what they know to police before the vandals can strike again.