Police are hunting for a man who spray-painted a swastika on a Brooklyn building — an act of vandalism police are calling a hate crime.
The man spray-painted the swastika on a building and several trees near Franklin St. and Noble St. in Greenpoint around 10 p.m. July 26, cops said. More than a month later, police released the man’s picture and are asking the public’s help in identifying him.
Police are also looking for a man who painted a swastika on a commercial building in Staten Island Aug. 23 in an unrelated, separate incident.
As of Sunday, the NYPD has investigated 240 hate crimes against Jewish victims in the city this year, a 73% jump from the 138 recorded by this time last year. Cops believe many of the bias incidents were spurred by heightened tensions over Israel’s war against Hamas, which began last Oct. 7.
Hate crimes against Jews in New York state jumped 89% between 2018 and 2023, from 253 incidents to 477, a new study released by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli shows.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.