Probe eyes anti-Jewish graffiti at Cedarhurst, Lawrence LIRR stations since 2012
Nassau and MTA police want the public's help in finding whoever has been scrawling anti-Jewish graffiti for a year at the Cedarhurst and Lawrence train stations.
The rash of graffiti started in February and was written on advertising signs on the train platforms, said Nassau police, which consider it a case of aggravated harassment.
Jeff Leb, an LIRR commuter, said he first saw the graffiti in late 2012 and has been pushing authorities to find the culprits. He's been photographing the graffiti and, because of the handwriting, he believes more than one person is responsible.
"It's reminiscent of 1940s Berlin than 2014 Cedarhurst," said Leb, who takes the Long Island Rail Road to his job as the director of political affairs for the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center in Manhattan.
At one point, a swastika was carved into the glass of a shelter, he said, and MTA authorities scratched into the glass also to connect the symbol's lines, making it look like a "+" sign within a box. Sometimes the statements target all Jews with curses, while other times they target Orthodox Jews, Leb's photos show.
"It's unfortunate that people feel so much hate in their hearts that they have to go about vandalizing these signs," Leb said. "He or she, the vandals, keep doing it, and I just keep reporting it. Hopefully, I'll win this battle."
Anyone with any information may call Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS (8477) or the Metropolitan Transportation Authority detectives at 516-222-6501 on case #13-14636.
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