Swastika found scratched onto Merrick car

A foot-tall swastika was found scratched into the side of a BMW in Merrick on Sunday, Nassau police said -- the third such incident in the past two weeks on the South Shore.

Police said the 48-year-old man who owned the 2011 BMW discovered the swastika on the vehicle's right front door at about 7:30 a.m.

He also found obscenities scratched onto the hood and trunk of the vehicle, which was parked in his Holland Way driveway.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

The day before, police said a 1-inch square swastika was found written in black marker on an outside wall of the Merrick Avenue Middle School, as well as several 5-foot-tall obscenities spray-painted on the school's outdoor walls, windows and doors.

And on June 16, a swastika and the words "Hail Hitler" were discovered written in black marker in numerous places in Cedar Creek Park in Seaford, Nassau police said.

Police said detectives are investigating the cases, but they don't believe they are connected.

Police ask anyone with information on these cases to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS. Calls will be kept anonymous.