BLUE HILL – The town is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in painting a swastika and the words “kill Jews” on a fence.

“This sort of thing doesn’t happen in Blue Hill,” said Board of Selectmen Chairman John Bannister. “It is appalling. We want to make sure that people know that if you do this, you get caught.”

The vandalism was reported after an owner of the fence returned from vacation, according to Maine State Police Trooper Cliff Peterson, who responded to the incident Saturday.

The owner was not Jewish and told Peterson she didn’t know who would have painted it.

Peterson found the graffiti had been on the fence for a few days.

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

The graffiti has since been covered with tarps, according to Bannister.

Maine State Police are investigating whether the graffiti written was a hate crime or a random act of vandalism.

Police have no suspects.

“Everyone is keeping their ear to the ground,” said Bannister.

Anyone with information regarding the incident can contact the Maine State Police at 667-5697.