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Report: Burglars Paint Anti-Gay Slurs On Walls Of Van Nuys Home

VAN NUYS (CBSLA.com) — A burglary and vandalism at a Van Nuys home Tuesday was being investigated as a hate crime, police said.

An open door was reported at a home in the 7400 block of Vista Del Monte Avenue at about 6 p.m. Tuesday evening, Los Angeles police spokeswoman Officer Liliana Preciado said.

Officers who arrived at the scene found the door open and entered the property to make sure there were no suspects inside.

The officers found "severe" property damage to the home. Homophobic graffiti, busted walls and broken water pipes were found inside, police said. Based on the evidence, investigators were labeling the evidence a hate crime, Preciado said.

No suspect information was released.

Neighbor Henry Klein told CBS2 he spoke to the two men who live in the home. Klein said they were doubly-pained by the break-in and the hate messages.

"These folks have been living here for a few years, they put a lot of work into that house they are good neighbors," Klein said.

A financial estimate of the damage and loss was not immediately confirmed.

(©2017 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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