Vandals Hoped to Set Swastikas Ablaze

Vandals who defaced the driveway of Congregation Beth Am Israel in Penn Valley with two swastikas drawn in what police said was an "oil-based substance" had intended to set the graffiti aflame, according to Joseph Daly, superintendent of the Lower Merion Police Department.

"It looks as though the intent was to ignite these things, like the burning of a cross or something along that nature," said Daly, noting that burnt matches were discovered alongside the two swastikas, one of which was 5-by-5 feet in size and the other 2-by-2.

Daly added that the fact that the individual or group was unsuccessful led him to think it was a bunch of kids or teenagers.

The graffiti was discovered by a maintenance worker at the synagogue on Aug. 22 in the afternoon, but police believe that the ground was actually defaced the night before.

Police were hopeful that security camera footage would reveal a suspect, but the devices did not capture the act.

Daly acknowledged that police have no leads or suspects in the case. He said that synagogue vandalism does occasionally happen in their precinct area, but that it's a relatively rare occurrence.