Selden graffiti, arson investigated as hate crime

Swastikas and hate messages were spray-painted on a home and car in Selden Thursday, Suffolk police said.

Det. Sgt. Robert Reecks, commanding officer of the Suffolk Police Hate Crimes Bureau, said the incident, which also involved a Jeep parked in the home's driveway being set on fire, was being investigated as a hate crime.

It is the second time in 10 months that the Hawkins Road home has had graffiti painted on it, police and a resident said.

Alex Robles, 32, who lives in the house with his mother, wife and daughter, said he thinks the graffiti stems from "a personal vendetta" against a family member. "We've never had any problems at all," Robles said of the neighborhood.

The incident was reported about 12:30 a.m., Reecks said.

In October 2009, someone spray-painted swastikas on the home's garage door and slurs on residents' cars that referred to the occupants' Hispanic heritage, Reecks said. No one was ever arrested. "We exhausted all leads at the time," he said.

"This particular residence is being targeted," said Reecks, adding that the situation is "escalating."

Robles said he heard a noise early Thursday and found the 1999 Jeep Cherokee ablaze.

"I was awake," Robles said. "I heard a loud thumping noise, and I got up to look. I looked out the window, and the Jeep was on fire . . . The room was glowing red and orange."

He said his biggest fear was the safety of his daughter because the driveway is just outside her room.

"I want whoever did this to be found and be taken care of - to have them get arrested," he said. "This is ridiculous, to get it to this level, to set something on fire - a fire this close to the house, to the room where my little girl is sleeping.

"That's just not right."

With Yamiche Alcindor