Spray-painted swastikas found in Atwater neighborhood

ATWATER, Calif. (KFSN) -- Neighbors say at least three swastikas have been spray-painted along Olive Avenue in Atwater.

The fences along Olive Avenue are two-toned and often freshly painted to hide offensive graffiti.

"That fence for sure and I know this church has been graffitied over here," said neighbor Kathy Jantz.

Neighbors say they're used to the vandalism but are still disturbed when they see images like the swastikas that were found down the street earlier this week.

"I think we all want the same thing, we all want to be graffiti free," said Jantz.

Atwater police say no one has filed a police report about the swastika graffiti, and they aren't treating the tagging as a hate crime. If the symbols had a clear message and distinct target, investigators say they'd handle it differently, but for now it's just another offensive marking on the street.

Electronic Bros just opened last month on Olive Avenue and say they haven't had any vandalism concerns yet.

"We have a security guy at the end of our block right here, the last business, so we stay pretty late to make sure there ain't nothing going on," said Electronic Bros owner Cody Chilton.

Neighbor Fernando Echevarria says he found the swastikas this week and believes more security cameras on the block could help curb the vandalism.

"Surveillance cameras are a big plus for curtailing graffiti because they actually are able to photograph and videotape the people doing it, and then we can take that to court and prosecute them there," said Echevarria.

For now, property owners are required by city code to paint over any graffiti within 72 hours to avoid fines.