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Police Investigating Hate Crime At Alhambra Home

ALHAMBRA (CBSLA.com) — The Alhambra Police Department Tuesday continued their investigation into a hate crime and vandalization at the home of an African American family.

Police responded to a report of a residential burglary in the 2000 block of Midwickhill Dr. around 3 p.m. Monday when the home's owner returned to find extensive damage to the property.

Officers found racial epithets and swastikas spray painted in red throughout the home and multiple pieces of property damaged, police said.

"There was food sprayed around the house, orange juice and ketchup, things like that. Things were tipped over, broken. And then the spray paint, vulgar messages, every room in the house," Sgt. Jerry Johnson said.

The suspect or suspects also poured bleach inside the residence.

"I have never seen anything like this," Sgt. Johnson said. "This kind of thing doesn't happen very often in Alhambra. Its a top priority. We are treating it very seriously."

The home owner also reported that four firearms were stolen. It was unclear if anything else was taken due to the condition of the home.

Detectives with the Alhambra Police and Crime Scene Investigators with the Los Angeles County Crime Lab were processing the scene and speaking to neighbors.

"I heard the severity of the damage inside there, it would seem like it was very targeted. That that still happens in society and it happens in our neighborhood - across the street - is just tragic," neighbor William Marmolejo said.

No suspect information was immediately available.

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