NEW GARDEN — Township police are looking for information about who defaced a township church some time last week and are asking for the public’s help in battling such acts in the future.
Township Police are investigating an incident of graffiti in the 200 block of Penn Green Road in Landenberg Village, which occurred to the exterior of the United Methodist Church.
The suspect using what appears to be red spray paint inscribed two symbols, “666” and a Pentagram enclosed within a circle, police said. Additionally, the suspect inscribed two phrases, one of which indicates that the symbols are Satanic in nature. The damage was found by a grounds-keeper who was cutting the grass; the timeframe of the incident is approximately one-week. The police department is checking nearby surveillance video for potential evidence and talking with neighbors.
Police did not release images of the incident: In an effort not to bestow fame on the perpetrator of this despicable and criminal act; it is the practice of the New Garden Township Police Department not to release photographs of the graffiti.
Finally, police recognizes our community’s frustration, especially if they’ve been victimized numerous times; the frustration leads to failing to report the incidents, surmising that a suspect will never be identified. The police department is asking the public to take the time and perform the following steps if they become a victim of graffiti vandalism:
1. Immediately contact the police — the New Garden Police will create a written and visual report of damages, a photographic record (evidence) of damages and we can track whether or not it is gang-related.
2. Timely removal of the graffiti vandalism — removal vigilance is the best step in preventing a reoccurrence, police said.
3. Keep a record of repairs — if a suspect is later identified, these records will be used for restitution orders, police said.
4. Report suspicious activity — it only take moments to create graffiti vandalism and substantially more time and money to repair. See something suspicious or out-of-the-ordinary; report it to the police immediately, they ask.
