Investigators in Laconia are searching for those responsible for vandalizing several downtown stores with racial slurs and graphic images.Store owners whose businesses were defaced are coming together to raise awareness about the vandalism, with some posting wanted posters of the suspected “local artists.”Stages Dance Academy students were forced to walk past explicit spray-painted graffiti Thursday as they showed up for class.Erica Gilbert, owner of Stages Dance Academy, said her downstairs neighbor in their building at 5 Pleasant Street notified her about graffiti Thursday morning.When Gilbert got to work, she checked the footage on her Ring camera and saw a group of people outside the studio spray-painting graffiti on the building.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<"Just appalled that someone would do that and destroy everyone's property," Gilbert said. "We don't want to destroy downtown. There are kids that are down here, families." Police said Gilbert's studio wasn't the only target last night. A bike shop across the street told News 9 they were also hit with several graphic pictures and words spray painted across their building. The Pottery Shop on Pleasant Street reported a similar incident, with the same color spray paint used on the other buildings. John Moriarty the building landlord for 5 Pleasant Street said the repairs here will be more than just a fresh coat of paint."The brick is artificial, and there's two layers of paint. There's no way to remove the graffiti. We have to replace the stucco," said building landlord John Moriarty. "That's probably a $25,000 infringement."Investigators said they've got some leads, but no one is in police custody."We're looking for commonalities amongst the graffiti as well as certain artistic signatures to the graffiti," Laconia police Chief Matthew Canfield said.Laconia police said some of the graffiti borders along the lines of a hate crime, and suspects could face misdemeanor charges for criminal mischief.
Investigators in Laconia are searching for those responsible for vandalizing several downtown stores with racial slurs and graphic images.
Store owners whose businesses were defaced are coming together to raise awareness about the vandalism, with some posting wanted posters of the suspected “local artists.”
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Stages Dance Academy students were forced to walk past explicit spray-painted graffiti Thursday as they showed up for class.
Erica Gilbert, owner of Stages Dance Academy, said her downstairs neighbor in their building at 5 Pleasant Street notified her about graffiti Thursday morning.
When Gilbert got to work, she checked the footage on her Ring camera and saw a group of people outside the studio spray-painting graffiti on the building.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<
“Just appalled that someone would do that and destroy everyone’s property,” Gilbert said. “We don’t want to destroy downtown. There are kids that are down here, families.”
Police said Gilbert’s studio wasn’t the only target last night.
A bike shop across the street told News 9 they were also hit with several graphic pictures and words spray painted across their building. The Pottery Shop on Pleasant Street reported a similar incident, with the same color spray paint used on the other buildings.
John Moriarty the building landlord for 5 Pleasant Street said the repairs here will be more than just a fresh coat of paint.
“The brick is artificial, and there’s two layers of paint. There’s no way to remove the graffiti. We have to replace the stucco,” said building landlord John Moriarty. “That’s probably a $25,000 infringement.”
Investigators said they’ve got some leads, but no one is in police custody.
“We’re looking for commonalities amongst the graffiti as well as certain artistic signatures to the graffiti,” Laconia police Chief Matthew Canfield said.
Laconia police said some of the graffiti borders along the lines of a hate crime, and suspects could face misdemeanor charges for criminal mischief.
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