Los Angeles businesses are reeling from a spate of vandalism aimed at Jewish-owned stores, sparking an LAPD hate crime investigation. The latest incident occurred early Monday in Canoga Park where, according to CBS Los Angeles, two businesses had their windows shattered by rocks. This uptick in targeted attacks includes similar crimes in nearby Woodland Hills over the weekend.
Among the vandalized establishments were an In-N-Out burger restaurant and a Sherwin-Williams paint store, both on Topanga Canyon Boulevard and owned by members of the Jewish community. A rock bearing the phrase "pay up" was left at the paint store, a detail that FOX Los Angeles reported.
Further complicating the investigation is the targeting of some businesses whose owners are not Jewish, such as a dance studio that also faced vandalism. Despite this, police speculate a potential anti-Semitic motive in the attacks and are operating under the premise of a connected series of hate crimes. KTLA mentioned that the businesses were targeted using rocks, which has become a disturbing pattern over the last several days.
At a tire store in the area, the same messages were scrawled on rocks used to break windows, suggesting a pattern in the perpetrator's actions. One business owner told authorities they believe they were targeted for displaying a mezuzah, a traditional Jewish symbol. With no arrests made and no suspect descriptions available yet, the community anxiously awaits the outcome of the police probe. Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public’s help, urging anyone with information to come forward.
