Norwich Jewish Center target of hate crime
NORWICH – The Norwich Jewish Center, located at 70-76 South Broad St., was the target of a burglary this week, and due to the extent of the vandalism and the graffiti left at the scene, the Norwich Police Department is investigating the matter as a hate crime.
The burglary was reported to the department on Wednesday afternoon, but police are still trying to pinpoint the exact time of the incident. They are working to determine who was the last person in the building before the incident, but they are under the impression the event took place in the last few days.
The Jewish Center is located in a large, three story brick building, once the home of the Eaton family. Police have said the vandalism encompassed the entire area. “My estimate of the damage would be in the tens of thousands of dollars,” Angelino said.
Angelino explained that due to the nature of some of the graffiti, which included an anti-Semitic message inside the synagogue, the police are going to pursue the investigation as a hate crime. He explained a hate crime is defined as any one of a number of crimes that is committed in a manner that singles out an individual or group based on their race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or ethnicity.
Angelino explained that the hate crime designation is an “aggravating factor, which carries increased penalties and severity.” The party or parties responsible for the burglary and vandalism could face felony charges.
The Norwich Police Department and the New York State Police Forensic Crime Investigation Team investigated the scene on Wednesday. “Because of darkness and also because all the light fixtures inside the synagogue were destroyed, we had to halt the evidence collection until daylight,” said Chief Angelino. “When the investigation continues Thursday, I anticipate the participation of the FBI and other law enforcement agencies.” A Norwich Police officer will be posted at the location until the investigation there is completed.
The Norwich Jewish Center is the only synagogue located in Chenango County. In 2003, the building was also the target of a hate crime. At that time, vandals broke the windows at the rear of the building. The responsible parties were arrested and sentenced to jail. According to Angelino, The Jewish Center has not reported any other incidents or problems recently. The department does not have any suspects at this time.
Police ask anyone with information about the incident to contact the Norwich Police Station at 334-2424.
The burglary was reported to the department on Wednesday afternoon, but police are still trying to pinpoint the exact time of the incident. They are working to determine who was the last person in the building before the incident, but they are under the impression the event took place in the last few days.
The Jewish Center is located in a large, three story brick building, once the home of the Eaton family. Police have said the vandalism encompassed the entire area. “My estimate of the damage would be in the tens of thousands of dollars,” Angelino said.
Angelino explained that due to the nature of some of the graffiti, which included an anti-Semitic message inside the synagogue, the police are going to pursue the investigation as a hate crime. He explained a hate crime is defined as any one of a number of crimes that is committed in a manner that singles out an individual or group based on their race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or ethnicity.
Angelino explained that the hate crime designation is an “aggravating factor, which carries increased penalties and severity.” The party or parties responsible for the burglary and vandalism could face felony charges.
The Norwich Police Department and the New York State Police Forensic Crime Investigation Team investigated the scene on Wednesday. “Because of darkness and also because all the light fixtures inside the synagogue were destroyed, we had to halt the evidence collection until daylight,” said Chief Angelino. “When the investigation continues Thursday, I anticipate the participation of the FBI and other law enforcement agencies.” A Norwich Police officer will be posted at the location until the investigation there is completed.
The Norwich Jewish Center is the only synagogue located in Chenango County. In 2003, the building was also the target of a hate crime. At that time, vandals broke the windows at the rear of the building. The responsible parties were arrested and sentenced to jail. According to Angelino, The Jewish Center has not reported any other incidents or problems recently. The department does not have any suspects at this time.
Police ask anyone with information about the incident to contact the Norwich Police Station at 334-2424.
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