Swastika Scratched Into Car Near Wash U

students returned from spring break to find swastikas keyed into vehicles and tires slashed on cars near the Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT) house at 7020 Forsyth Blvd.

The  is investigating four separate incidents of vehicle vandalism near the historically Jewish fraternity house. Police believe the incidents occurred last Thursday or Friday, but there are no witnessess to the crimes at this time.

Wash U's Student Life reported that sophomore Max LaVictoire returned Friday to find three swastikas keyed onto his car and all four of his tires slashed.

Three other cars on Forsyth and in the ZBT lot had their tires slashed as well, but no tires were slashed outside the Chabad house, which is right next to the fraternity house. 

LaVictoire told Student Life he felt like the crime was directed at the fraternity.

“Nothing happened to Chabad, so I feel like if they were trying to target Jews that would have been an obvious target,” LaVictoire said. “It seems like it’s more ZBT-related because the other cars that got their tires slashed were parked at places where only ZBTs live, but not at formal ZBT housing.”

According Zeta Beta Tau's web site, the fraternity was the world's first Jewish fraternity, but has welcomed members of other faiths since the 1950s.

The vandalism was reported Friday and Monday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Anyone with information is asked to call the University City Police Department at 314-505-8652.