The real estate agent marketing a foreclosed house on Northern Avenue just outside Hagerstown said he would arrange to quickly remove a swastika and racist graffiti that were painted on at least two of the exterior walls.
John Orem, owner of John Orem & Associates LLC in Martinsburg, W.Va., said Thursday that he would contact the owner of the house at 640 Northern Ave. to fix the problem.
The owner is listed as OWB REO LLC, according to the Maryland Department of Assessment and Taxation's website. OWB refers to One West Bank of Pasadena, Calif.,
"We'll have people who work for that bank come out and correct the situation," Orem said. "That's just horrible. I'd like to get it fixed as soon as possible."
Orem said he didn't know until he was contacted to comment that graffiti had been painted on the front and side of the single-story house, which is directly across the street from Northern Middle School.
A green swastika was spray-painted on the front wall. Racist and an anti-President Obama sentiments were painted on the side facing east.
"Imagine Life Without Peace" was among the other things painted on a wall leading from the sidewalk to a sunken garage. "Jesus Loves You" and an anti-war phrase were painted on the garage door.
Orem said thieves commonly steal copper piping from unoccupied houses that are in foreclosure, but vandalism of this nature "is a rarity."
Northern Avenue in the area of the graffiti acts as the border between the city of Hagerstown and Washington County. The house that was vandalized in on the county side.
Deputy 1st Class J.D. Miller of the Washington County Sheriff's Office said he investigated the incident Thursday, but he didn't have a lot of details.
"It looks like it was a bunch of kids," he said.
John Orem, owner of John Orem & Associates LLC in Martinsburg, W.Va., said Thursday that he would contact the owner of the house at 640 Northern Ave. to fix the problem.
The owner is listed as OWB REO LLC, according to the Maryland Department of Assessment and Taxation's website. OWB refers to One West Bank of Pasadena, Calif.,
"We'll have people who work for that bank come out and correct the situation," Orem said. "That's just horrible. I'd like to get it fixed as soon as possible."
Orem said he didn't know until he was contacted to comment that graffiti had been painted on the front and side of the single-story house, which is directly across the street from Northern Middle School.
A green swastika was spray-painted on the front wall. Racist and an anti-President Obama sentiments were painted on the side facing east.
"Imagine Life Without Peace" was among the other things painted on a wall leading from the sidewalk to a sunken garage. "Jesus Loves You" and an anti-war phrase were painted on the garage door.
Orem said thieves commonly steal copper piping from unoccupied houses that are in foreclosure, but vandalism of this nature "is a rarity."
Northern Avenue in the area of the graffiti acts as the border between the city of Hagerstown and Washington County. The house that was vandalized in on the county side.
Deputy 1st Class J.D. Miller of the Washington County Sheriff's Office said he investigated the incident Thursday, but he didn't have a lot of details.
"It looks like it was a bunch of kids," he said.
