Anti-Semitic vandals again target Jewish preschool

Anti-Semitic graffiti was found Mon., Jan. 5 at a Jewish preschool in Old Town Camarillo—the second time in less than a week that Nazi-related vandalism was seen on the campus.

This is the third time since 2007 that racist vandalism was found at the preschool.

According to police, a parent at the preschool saw swastikas and other hate-crime graffiti at the Gan Camarillo Preschool, 2222 E. Ventura Blvd., early Monday morning.

Rabbi Aryeh Lang, head of the Chabad Camarillo that runs the school, said investigators are not sure whether Monday's vandalism was new or if it was left over from a Dec. 31 incident, in which vandals used black permanent markers to draw swastikas on the sidewalk in front of the Jewish preschool.

"It's definitely very concerning, especially since there are young children there," Lang said.

The rabbi said school officials have talked with parents about the vandalism and will continue to use video surveillance at the preschool.

In addition, Lang said, police patrols will be increased in the area.

The preschool enrolls children between 2 and 5 years old.

The campus, leased from the Pleasant Valley School District for the past two years, was one of nine Camarillo properties vandalized in August 2008 with anti-Semitic graffiti.

Jonathan Samuel Latino, a 20yearold Camarillo man, was arrested a month later in connection with the crimes.

In late July last year, police arrested and charged three other men in connection with another string of racially motivated vandalisms that began in 2007.

According to police reports, James Croley, 19, and Matthew McCasland, 18, both from Camarillo, and Patrick Berndtson, 19, of Capitola in Northern California marked swastikas and other "degrading racial comments" on homes and cars along Green Vale Drive, Green Lawn Avenue, Ripley Street, and Tree Fern and Green Glade courts in 2007.

Croley was also suspected of defacing the Jewish preschool with anti-Semitic graffiti during the summer of 2007.

Croley and Latino are now in jail, while McCasland and Berndston have been released, court records show.

"As I've said before, 99 percent of Camarillo's residents are tolerant and loving citizens, but this happens to be a small, small group of people, who, unfortunately, are just very loud," Lang said. "The majority has to be equally loud and say, 'These haters are not welcome in our community.'"

Police are asking anyone with information about the recent vandalisms to call the Camarillo Police Department at (805) 388-5100.