Jewish academy in Palm Desert vandalized

A Jewish academy in Palm Desert was vandalized Monday. Officials described it as a hate crime.

The back and west sides of the Torah Academy on Santa Rosa Way were defaced by swastikas, cartoon characters and the word “trouble,” according to Assistant Police Chief Lt. Steve Thetford.

Riverside County Sheriff’s forensic technicians collected several items from the scene and have several leads, Thetford said.

Rabbi Yonason Denebeim, director of Chabad for Riverside County, said vandalism is an ongoing problem.

“We’ve had windows broken previously and in the past, our playground equipment was vandalized,” he said. “Preschool kids don’t need to see swastikas.”

Authorities said they are doing everything they can to solve the crime.

“It is our hope that community and religious leaders preach the values of tolerance and understanding of cultural diversity,” Rabbi Denebeim said. “I believe the individuals who are doing this don’t understand the dynamics of what they are painting.”