Crime & Safety
5 Newton Antisemitic Hate Incidents In Last 4 Weeks: Police
Police said they are investigating additional incidents to the defacing of posters of Israeli hostages on a home's fence Saturday night.
NEWTON, MA — The defacing of posters of Israeli hostages on a Newton homeowner's fence on Saturday night was just the latest in a series of antisemitic vandalism and theft incidents over the past month, police said.
Newton police said that detectives and officers are investigating the rash of incidents that include what they called the malicious destruction of "We Stand With Israel" signs on personal property. Police said one home was targeted twice with two incidents reported on Homer Street on Sunday and one on Hillside Road on March 12.
Additional patrols have been added to look for suspicious behavior with residents asked to report any unusual activity to Newton police.
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"Bias, hatred and targeting those for their personal beliefs can not and will not be tolerated by the Newton Police Department," Chief John Carmichael said. "Now is a time for solidarity to prevail in our community not divisiveness. We ask the community to partner with us to identify the individual (or individuals) responsible for these acts and help send the message that such hate has no place in Newton."
On Sunday morning, Newton resident Joe Kosowski said he and his family woke up to vandalism in their yard.
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Faces of Israeli hostages lining their fences are now blacked out by spray paint or scratched away. "Free Gaza" was also spray-painted on a sign saying the family stands with Israel.
Police said Monday night that other incidents include a "We Stand With Israel" sign stolen from the front porch of a Columbus Street home on Feb. 22.
A "We Stand With Israel" sign was defaced with red paint on Beacon Street on Feb. 29.
A "We Stand With Israel" sign was defaced with a sticker that read "Bombing Kids Is Not Self-Defense" at the same Beacon Street location on Feb. 29.
A "We Stand With Israel" sign was defaced with "Bombing Kids is not self-defense" on March 7 on Centre Street.
Anyone with information about the incidents referenced is asked to call the Newton Police tip line at 617-796-2121.
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