Someone wrote an anti-Semitic message on the door of a home in a quiet Carmel Valley neighborhood, and now San Diego police are investigating the case as a possible hate crime.
Police said the homeowners discovered the slur scrawled on the door of their home in the 13000 block of Sandown Way on Tuesday night. The culprit first opened a package left on the doorstep, stole some items and then left behind a troubling message.
“We’re just completely shocked,” said Carmel Valley resident Jessica Grunvald. “This is a family neighborhood, something that we’ve never seen here before. We’re all hurt for our friends and just completely in shock that this would happen.”
The message referenced a Mezuzah, a Jewish ornament put on a door frame to symbolically bless everyone who passes through.
The homeowners had a Mezuzah and neighbors believe the suspect knew they were Jewish.
“Clearly, it’s anti-Semitic graffiti,” said Carmel Valley resident Venkat Emani. “I think it’s beyond kids to do such things.”
On Friday morning, volunteer patrol officers were out knocking on doors in the diverse neighborhood, which homeowners estimate is at least one-third Jewish, in hopes of discovering more information.
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Police officers are investigating the situation as a vandalism case, but haven’t yet determined if it reaches the level of a hate crime.
