Gang Graffiti, Swastikas Found at Kenilworth Junior High

Suspects believed to be Kenilworth Junior High students tagged more than 30 locations at the school Saturday night, leaving behind White Power gang signs, swastikas and names of teachers and administrators at what police are describing as one of the worst incidents of vandalism in years.

On Sunday morning, Petaluma police received a call from a resident who lives near the school, saying that their home had been vandalized overnight.

"We didn't think much of it at first because these types of calls are pretty routine," said Officer Ryan DeBaeke. "But when I arrived there, I realized it was major. Nearly every external wall of the front of the school was covered."

A call was placed to local graffiti vigilante Ed Cerar, who together with the school custodian, set to work cleaning up the tags. These included many gang scribbles, ethnic and gay slurs, including some that targeted Kenilworth teachers. The district estimated the damage at $3,000.

"They were so specific, we feel it was a student or a group of students," DeBaeke said.

By Sunday evening, no traces of the vandalism could be seen at the school, which is closed until Tuesday.

Besides Kenilworth, a home on Fieldstone Lane was tagged Saturday night, believed to have been perpetrated by the same students. In addition, six other Eastside residences were tagged with gang graffiti.

Graffiti is a major problem for the city, costing thousands in clean up every year. Anyone with information about Saturday's incident is encouraged to contact Officer Ryan DeBaeke at (707)781-1244.

Watch an ABC video report of this story here