The San Mateo Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect responsible for a string of anti-China graffiti in the city.
On Friday, San Mateo police were alerted to vandalism “peppering the Laurelwood neighborhood along De Anza Blvd.” Patrols in the area were increased, police said.
The string of graffiti appears to be related.
Anti-Chinese sentiments and vandalism are on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic, which is believed to have originated in China. In April, San Mateo Mayor Joe Goethals expressed disappointment and frustration after anti-Chinese graffiti was posted on freeway signage in the city at Interstate 92 and De Anza Boulevard.
“The City of San Mateo takes an aggressive stance against all graffiti and, like our community, we find hate speech abhorrent,” the Police Department said in a statement.
Anyone with information on the vandalism is encouraged to contact police dispatch at (650) 522-7700. Anonymous tips can be submitted to http://tinyurl.com/SMPDTips or by calling (650) 522-7676.
