UPDATE: Vandals strike Carmel Mission days after Serra canonization

UPDATE 9/28/15 11:30 p.m.: Carmel police said thesurveillance cameras at theMission were off. They have no suspect information at this point.

“We’ve contacted all the neighbors on the surrounding streets. Nobody heard anything, nobody saw anything,” said Cmdr. Paul Tomasi of Carmel Police.

Investigators believe the vandals are from out of the area. This week police are increasing patrols around the area to keep the Mission safe.

Still, police said they need the communities help to find the vandals.

“There’s always people out early morning and late at night. If they heard anything or saw anything, it will help us narrow the timeline and maybe just give us that one clue we need to help figure out who did this,” said Cmdr. Tomasi.

Previous Story:

Just days after the canonization of Junipero Serra by Pope Francis, the Carmel Mission Basilica was struck by vandals, knocking down Serra’s statue and covering it with paint.

The mission’s website reported the damage Sunday morning and posted a series of photos of numerous historic statues splattered with white paint. One photo shows a rock with “Saint of genocide” written across.

The canonization of Serra was controversial with some Native Americans criticizing his treatment towards their ancestors.

Sunday morning volunteers were scrapping away splattered paint from Carmel Mission walls and tombstones. They worked quickly but there was a lot to clean up. Many of those attending Sunday service couldn’t believe someone could do this on sacred grounds.

“It’s extremely disturbing that this would happen, because of the canonization of Junipero Serra, I assume,” said Kathleen Coss of Carmel.

Carmel police said it all happened sometime after 7:30 Saturday night and they are investigating it as a hate crime.

“The reason why we are investigating it as a hate crime is because it appears that the damage is specifically targeted to the grave sites and statues of individuals of European decent and those of Native American decent were not targeted,” said Sgt. Luke Powell of Carmel Police.

The break in was reported to police the same day as the mission celebrated Junipero Serra’s sainthood. The new saint’s statue had a piece broken off during the fall. But the mission didn’t let that ruin Sunday service. Mass went on as scheduled and the day’s message was forgiveness.

“We need to remember that thinking as Serra would think thinking as Jesus would have us think we need to forgive we need to understand this persons in pain and we need to accept those feelings for what they are and we need to forgive,” said Deacon Warren Hoy.

It’s believed vandals hopped the mission fence near the grave sites. Police are looking over surveillance video from the mission to catch whoever did the vandalizing. Carmel police estimate damages around $50,000.

Carmel Mission vandalized