Calgary Police investigate hate-motivated vandalism

We are investigating an act of vandalism in a southwest park as a hate-motivated act targeting the Jewish community.

Between the hours of 9 p.m., on Tuesday, April 20, and 8:30 a.m., on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, it is believed an unknown person wrote “I love Hitler” and other profanity on the ground of a playground parking lot located at 384 Woodvale Drive S.W. April 20 is of historical significance as it was previously celebrated as Hitler’s birthday and designated a national holiday during the reign of Nazi Germany.

As a result, this incident is being investigated as a hate crime because it is a criminal offence to deface public property and the vandalism is of an offensive nature to the Jewish community.

We are looking to speak with anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have information about those believed to be involved. Anyone with information is encouraged to call police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously through the following methods:

 TALK: 1-800-222-8477

 TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org

 APP: P3 Tips

CA #21145507/4771

Vandalism is more than a property offence, it often has a lasting emotional impact on people whose homes and properties are damaged, especially if the vandalism indicates that victims have been intentionally targeted due to a personal characteristic or trait.

Hate-motivated crimes are recognizable crimes, like assault, theft, vandalism or any other crime, where the offender was motivated by bias, prejudice or hate that is based on one of nine personal characteristics of the victim.

Any evidence of a hate motivation is considered by the courts after a person is found guilty of the connected crime. If the judge decides during sentencing that hate was a motivation for the offence, it is an aggravating factor that can add to the convicted person’s sentence.