Police at the University of Rhode Island say more than a dozen cars have been vandalized over the last two weeks on the school’s campus in Kingston.
A total of 14 vehicles have had swastikas or pornographic images scratched into them. Some of the vehicles sustained additional damage including broken mirrors and slashed tires.
URI Chief of Police Stephen Baker says so far, police are still looking for a suspect.
“It’s a public institution, anyone can drive onto our campuses, and particularly our parking lots,” said Baler. “I’d like to think it’s not a student but we can’t discount anything at this point.”
Despite the swastikas, the incidents are not being pursued as hate crimes. Baker says so far none of the victims feel they were personally singled out.
“We don’t think they’re targeting any one individual, however it is obviously hateful towards members of our society,” said Baker. “So we’re very concerned of that. It is also a financial burden on those individuals who were victimized also.”
Baker says the university has stepped up police patrols on campus, and is working with South Kingston police to identify any suspects.
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