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Swastika Painted On Jewish Family's House

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By BART PFANKUCH, Sarasota Herald Tribune

Published: May 8, 2008

LAKEWOOD RANCH - A Jewish family in Lakewood Ranch had a swastika painted on their door this week in what the resident said was clearly a hate crime.

But the victim isn't taking the hate speech lying down: instead he intends to install motion-detecting lights, buy a security camera, and keep his M-4 high-powered rifle with a laser sight close by, he said.

The graffiti happened between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. Monday at a home in the 12900 block of Nightshade Place, according to a sheriff's report. The neighborhood is just south of State Road 70 about a mile east of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

The resident, 41, who didn't want his name used for fear of retaliation, said the swastika was likely painted by men who had previously tried to steal gas from his car.

When he caught them in the act, he said, he pointed his rifle at them and shined his laser sight on one suspect's back, causing them to flee. He thinks they returned and tagged his home to get back at him.

"Whether it's intimidation, or just to scare me, or to send a message, I can't tell you that," he said.

The resident told authorities he had a Jewish prayer on the front of his home, which he said likely triggered the use of the swastika, a symbol of the Nazi regime in Germany that systematically killed millions of Jews and dissidents.

When sheriff's deputies showed up to investigate the graffiti, the resident had his rifle on his back and extra ammunition strapped to his arm, the sheriff's report said.

The resident, who said he is a former military man and law enforcement officer, said he is trained how to properly use his gun, which he has nicknamed "Jasmine."

"We're concerned," he said. "I set up the lights, and the camera, and we have Jasmine by the bed."

He added: "If something happens, it happens."

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