Cops: Swastika on driveway in East Rockaway being investigated as hate crime

Nassau police are investigating as a bias crime a swastika on a driveway apron in East Rockaway that may be at least two years old, police said.

A pedestrian spotted the swastika, which was apparently embedded in the concrete, in front of a building in the 400 block of Atlantic Avenue about 1:40 p.m. Sunday, police said.

Police spokesman Steven Zacchia said the building owner said the concrete for the driveway apron was poured about two years ago. The swastika measured about one foot by one foot and appeared to have been altered by the addition of an extra line, police said.

Detectives from the Fifth Squad request that anyone with information contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 800-244-8477.

Hempstead Town Councilman Anthony D'Esposito, in a statement, urged anyone with information to contact police.

"Our township is home to those who endured the horror of Nazi death camps and many who fought the atrocities of the Nazi regime," he said. "There is no place in our communities for this symbol of hatred and intolerance."

By Nicole Fuller

nicole.fuller@newsday.com@NicoleFuller

Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.