Car vandalism, hate messages left in Santa Barbara neighborhood

Car vandals appear to have left hate inspired calling cards on Sunday night.

Victims said they found their cars keyed next to tiny notes taped to trees and street signs in their West Beach neighborhood.

The authors of those notes may have meant to print swastikas next to satanic numbers but the swastikas were backwards. Words between the symbols included taxes, gang stalkers, angry rapists and pedophile heroes.

Joe Lemus called the notes “pretty rude.” He said his grandmother’s car was one of about 40 keyed.

Max James said his SUV wasn’t as bad as some of the others that included sedans, and trucks. He said he saw police investigating the crime spree around 10 p.m. on Sunday night when many people were indoors watching the Oscars.

A resident who repairs windows said it looks like tools were used instead of key because some of the damage is deep.

One SUV had happy and sad faces scratched onto the side windows. A victim checking on his car with a flashlight on Monday night said he had just bought his car in Oxnard.

Another victim said she was told repairs to the body, paint and windows of her Mercedes SUV would cost about $5800.

Liz Willson said if she could talk to the vandals she would ask they why?

Police don’t have anyone in custody at this time related to this incident but have a suspect description. A witness described the suspect as someone that looked like a transient, possibly a white man approximately 170-180 pounds, with dark hair and a thin beard.

The suspect was last seen wearing a hoodie and baseball cap, according to the witness.