Yard signs were stolen are vandalized is several yards

Residents in southeast Albuquerque are calling it "racism of the worst kind" after several Barack Obama campaign signs were spray painted with swastikas.

Neighbors say the vandalism occurred in broad daylight near Comanche and Eubank on Thursday.

Tom and Jeanne Elmhorst's Barack Obama signs were spray-painted with swastikas around noon. But the Elmhorst's signs weren't the only ones that vandals tagged.

A couple blocks away, Joe Mancuso's signs were tagged too.

"It scares me, but it's also wrong," he said. "I believe it's racism in its worst form."

Mancuso's neighbors agree and posted a note for the vandals to see. It says, "To the chicken who takes Obama signs, I just donated $50 in your honor to the Obama campaign."

The city said vandals have been stealing both McCain and Obama yard signs.

Patricia Stell of the Osuna Park Neighborhood Association offered an alternative to sign stealing and vandalism.

"There's a better way to do this," she said. "Go vote."

When the Elmhorsts found the Nazi graffiti, they called the police to report a hate crime. They say their neighbors, some of whom are McCain supporters, are just as disgusted by the racist vandalism.

To curb the vandalism, police are stepping up patrols in some of the neighborhoods hit by the vandals. Stealing signs or spray painting them is considered trespassing.