After a Sherman Oaks church was repeatedly vandalized, a possible hate crime investigation is underway as the suspects remain at large.
The St. Francis de Sales Church on Valleyheart Drive has been targeted four times over the past two months.
The most recent incident happened on Sept. 28 after the statue at the entrance was vandalized with black spray paint.
Beginning on Aug. 7, most of the incidents targeted the statue of St. Francis de Sales and at one point, the concrete base was set on fire.
On Aug. 16, a window at the front porch of the rectory was also set on fire. On Sept. 20, the word “chomo” was spray painted on the statue, which is a slang word for child molester.
“It was a slang term that grew out of the California prisons in the ‘70s,” explained Reverend Michael Wakefield from the St. Francis de Sales church.
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The St. Francis de Sales Church located on Valleyheart Drive in Sherman Oaks. (KTLA) -
The window to the church rectory where Reverend Michael Wakefield lives was set on fire by a vandal. (KTLA) -
The statue in front of St. Francis de Sales Church in Sherman Oaks was repeatedly spray-painted and at one point set on fire. (KTLA) -
The concrete base of the St. Francis de Sales statue was set on fire at one point. (KTLA) -
The window to the church rectory where Reverend Michael Wakefield lives was set on fire by a vandal. (KTLA) -
The statue in front of St. Francis de Sales Church in Sherman Oaks was repeatedly spray-painted and at one point set on fire. (KTLA) -
Grafitti spotted nearby as business owners on Ventura Boulevard say they are dealing with an uptick in vandalism and crime. (KTLA) -
The statue in front of St. Francis de Sales Church in Sherman Oaks was repeatedly spray-painted and at one point set on fire. (KTLA)
The fire that was set at the church rectory where Wakefield lives left significant damage.
“It burned all the way through the window glass and scorched the Venetian blinds,” Wakefield said. “But by the grace of God, it seemed to burn itself out.”
It’s unclear why the suspect or suspects continue targeting the Catholic church, but the Los Angeles Police Department is working to track down the vandals.
“To see that this is something that is happening to our community is unsettling,” said Jessica, a parishioner.
A nearby resident, Sophie Jones, said she was shocked to see the graffiti when she passed by.
“My daughter, who’s 10, she’s the one who first noticed it,” Jones said. “She said, ‘Mommy that’s awful!’ We’re not religious or anything, but the fact that they did that on a church is not okay.”
Church officials said they plan to install more security cameras on the premises in hopes of deterring future incidents.
Nearby business owners on Ventura Boulevard said they’ve noticed similar graffiti around town and are fed up with the uptick in vandalism.
“There has been a lot of vandalism in the last few years,” said Robin Snyder, owner of Mulberry Row. “It’s really gone up because of the homeless situation.”
Snyder said her shop was broken into five times.
“They sleep behind my place of business and my door is [broken] so badly that it can’t be replaced right now because it’s a very expensive setup,” she said.
A few doors down, workers at Casa Vega restaurant said their trash bins were set on fire. A nearby gift shop had its window smashed in with a brick.
“The whole front window was smashed and we have no idea who did it,” said Sebastian, a store employee. “I don’t know why. There was no real reason. No one stole anything. It’s very odd.”
According to local Crime Mapping data, the area has been plagued with reports of break-ins, thefts, vandalism and more.
“We need more money going to social services,” Sebastian said. “Things to support people who are on the edge.”
“More than anything else, frustration and great sadness,” Wakefield said of the incidents. “I invited everyone if they would please pray that this will end. Pray for the people who would be driven to do such a terrible thing.”
The incidents remain under investigation. Anyone with information can call the LAPD at 1-877-527-3247.