NEWS

Phallic symbols painted in Parsippany neighborhood

Staff report

PARSIPPANY – A police investigation is underway to determine who spray painted phallic symbols around a township neighborhood.

The case was opened after Officer R. Howell responded to a Buena Road residence in the Lake Parsippany section of the township on Feb. 11 at 7:32 a.m. in response to a report about some criminal mischief.

The 49-year-old male resident told Howell that sometime during the night, someone spray painted a 3 foot long phallic symbol in purple spray paint on his storm door and siding, police said.

A smaller version of the symbol was also spray painted on the victim's mailbox, police said.

At 8:50 a.m. on the same, Howell responded to a Lake Shore Drive residence belonging to a 32-year-old man, who reported similar vandalism; a purple and black swastika, as well as two phallic symbols, had been spray painted along the siding of the residence, police said.

Howell checked the surrounding area and discovered additional vandalism of a similar nature to the Lake Parsippany Property Owners Association sign located at the intersection of Lake Shore Drive and Califon Road.

Black spray paint had been used to to deface the sign and a phallic symbol had been spray painted on the sign as well, police said.

The initial investigation determined that the victims were not specifically targeted and that the incidents were random acts of vandalism but the matter is under investigation by the Parsippany Police Department's Investigative Division, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Parsippany Police Department at 973-263-4300.