YORBA LINDA : Teen Charged in Graffiti Incidents

One juvenile has been charged and police were searching for a second Tuesday in connection with the spray-painting of a dozen swastikas in a seven-block area near City Hall.

Police believe that the pair also burglarized Yorba Linda Preschool on Yorba Linda Boulevard to steal the spray paint and marking pens used to draw the Nazi symbols on the north side of Yorba Linda Boulevard between Mountain View Avenue and Richfield Road. Authorities said it does not appear that the youths were targeting their graffiti at specific individuals.

A 14-year-old Yorba Linda boy was charged with burglary and malicious mischief in the Monday morning incidents. The boy, who was released to his parents, has not been identified because of his age.

Capt. Jim Oman said police are searching for a second boy, who was identified by the arrested youth as a 16-year-old runaway from Texas.

“If he is indeed a runaway, he might be difficult to find,” Oman said.

The two were spotted walking in the area by officers at 4:40 a.m. Monday. The 14-year-old was apprehended carrying two cans of red spray paint along with some felt-tipped markers, Oman said. The other youth escaped on foot.

The 14-year-old told police that he is a member of a local skinhead gang, but Oman said the youth did not have the shaved head that such gang members normally have.

“The only thing we have to tie him to the gang is what he said,” Oman said.

He also said it was probably coincidental that the youths spray-painted the swastikas on Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the Jewish new year.

City work crews erased the swastikas Monday.