AUGUSTA – Gay residents who live on a historic Augusta street say they are being harassed and their property is being vandalized because they are gay.

Two gay couples who live on Green Street said somebody has spray-painted insults on their houses, damaged their landscaping, scratched their cars and hurled insults their way.

The latest incident was reported Wednesday, when somebody broke limbs off some of the shrubs in front of a house shared by Dan Pomerleau, a former city councilor, and Al Longstaff.

Augusta Police Chief Wayne McCamish said the complaint would be forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office as a hate crime. Under the Maine Civil Rights Act, a hate crime occurs when a crime is committed or threatened against a person based on a bias.

Pomerleau said there has been a laundry list of incidents.

For instance, somebody set up “for sale” signs on his lawn – even though the house wasn’t for sale. The signs came from a property across the street where the house was for sale.

Another time somebody stole two tall hibiscus shrubs from the front porch. And still another time somebody pulled a tree out the garden and put it on top of their car.

Martin Swinger and Brian Kaufman, who also live on Green Street, said somebody spray-painted the word “fag” on their house. Another time, somebody scratched the same word into a car.

On Wednesday, police charged two 14-year-old girls who live nearby with spray-painting a number of cars and homes on Green Street earlier this month.

McCamish said he expects the complaints will be thoroughly investigated at the state level.

“The Attorney General’s Office will review the matter and will consult with us,” McCamish said.