City Offers Reward in Vandalism

The City Council has authorized a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of vandals who knocked over a Jewish display earlier this week.

“This act of vandalism really upset the community,” Councilwoman Sharon Cody said Thursday. “It’s important we find whoever did this to make them understand how much heartache they caused.”

Police discovered early Monday morning that vandals had torn up large signs painted with Jewish religious holiday symbols and scattered them over a small corner lot at the intersection of La Paz Road and Chrisanta Drive.

The display was part of a holiday celebration organized each year by the Mission Viejo Activities Committee. Christmas scenes on three other corners of the intersection were not disturbed.

The vandalism threatened a Jewish ceremony that was scheduled for Monday evening. However, volunteers and city workers came out early that afternoon and were able to reassemble the display.

“They were out there immediately,” Cody said. “The police had already taken their pictures and everything was restored in time for the ceremony.”

Police have no clues to the identity of the vandals.

The vandalism was the third racially motivated incident to draw the attention of Mission Viejo authorities in the past 18 months.

Last December, swastikas and graffiti were sprayed over much of Trabuco Hills High School. Police eventually arrested several suspects, including youths who live in Whittier.

In July, 1991, a jury convicted a Mission Viejo man of assault for punching a black youngster. However, the man was found innocent of committing a hate crime.