BLUE HILL – Maine State Police are investigating whether graffiti written on a Blue Hill resident’s fence was a hate crime or a random act of vandalism.

On Saturday Trooper Cliff Peterson responded to a call from a residence whose owner reported a swastika and the words “kill Jews” had been painted on her fence.

The owner had been out of town on vacation, and after investigating Peterson found the graffiti had been on the fence for a few days.

“I was surprised no one reported it earlier,” said Peterson. “This is a charged topic.”

The resident who owns the fence is not Jewish and told Peterson she didn’t know who would have painted it.

Police have no suspects, but Peterson said they were looking into some youths who frequent the area.