Vandals hit four schools on north Whidbey Island

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OAK HARBOR, Wash. -- Four north Whidbey Island schools have been hit in six incidents of vandalism over the past two weeks, including the spray-painting of a swastika at a middle school, officials said.

Students and neighbors have been asked for help to stop the attacks and security has been increased, said Bruce Worley, executive director of the Oak Harbor School District.

"We've agreed to increase the frequency of police drive-bys, and our security guys have basically doubled the security rounds for the schools that have been hit," Worley said. "We want to stop this from happening."

Damage is estimated at $5,000 and includes broken windows, a burned tree and graffiti at Oak Harbor and North Whidbey middle schools and Broad View and Hillcrest elementary schools.

A swastika was spray-painted onto a middle school in the week before Christmas, but police Capt. Rick Wallace said it did not appear to be racially or ethnically motivated.

"There was only one swastika. There's no other hate language or graffiti there," Wallace said. "We think it was a crime of opportunity while the schools were closed during Christmas vacation."