Police are investigating a possible hate crime after a vandal or team of vandals targeted the Holy Cross Church this past weekend. The vandals broke windows, poured paint on statues of Junipero Serra and the Virgin May and climbed on the roof so they could spray paint on the church’s bell tower.
Police are investigating a possible hate crime after a vandal or team of vandals targeted the Holy Cross Church this past weekend.
Damage was found to the main church, the museum, the garden and a historic chapel on Sunday morning, May 6. The vandal or vandals broke windows, poured paint on statues of Junipero Sera and the Virgin May and climbed on the roof so they could spray paint on the church's bell tower, according to Warren Hoy, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Monterey.
“They got a little bit of everything,” Hoy told the Santa Cruz Sentinel. “They were so thorough, that is why I keep saying 'they.' They took some time to do all this.”
A custodian found the damage, which also included anti-church slogans and symbols, at 6:50am, and police believe it occurred at about 4am. It is not clear what the cost will be, or if all the damage can be repaired. Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
