By: Nicole Falco
According to police, sometime between 8 p.m. Friday night and 8:20 a.m. the next day, an unknown person or persons left the palm crosses and more than 10 dead mice and rats on the unidentified homeowner-s property. Police were called in immediately to investigate. A live rat was also found on an outside basement windowsill. An Emergency Services Unit was called to remove the rodents.
At this time we are considering it a bias incident, said Sgt. Robert Galgano of the Fifth Precinct.
Police declined to elaborate further, except to say that the crime is being investigated. They declined to comment on the significance of the crosses and dead rodents, whether there were any witnesses and whether there were any clues as to the identity of the individual or individuals responsible for the crime.
The incident occurred Easter weekend, a week after palm fronds are traditionally handed out at many churches. A daily newspaper reported that the residents of the home are Catholic and have lived at that location approximately eight years.
Police did not release the identity of the homeowners or their exact address, but a neighbor pointed out the Benson Place home where she had seen police activity Saturday morning. The man who answered the door at the house declined to comment on the incident.
Anyone with information regarding this crime can contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-TIPS.
