Skokie police are investigating swastika graffiti on a Jewish-owned restaurant as a hate crime.

Police in Skokie are investigating graffiti that included a swastika on the window of a kosher pizzeria as a hate crime. Their investigation determined the graffiti could be gang-relatedsaid Skokie Police Sgt. Brandi Shelton.

Police responded to the report of graffiti at EJ’s Pizzeria at 9149 Gross Point Road on Sunday morning. Police said an unknown person used a sharp object and a black marker to draw a swastika within a heart, among other markings.

Shelton said the investigation into the graffiti started out as a hate crime investigation but that the department has learned the graffiti could be gang-related.

EJ’s Pizzeria posted on Facebook a photo of the graffiti found on Sunday. “The incident comes at a time when tensions surrounding events in Israel have heightened, and concerns about the rise of antisemitism persist globally,” the restaurant’s account posted.

EJ’s owner, Moises Wajchman, told Pioneer Press on Monday that the first thing he wanted to do was call the police when he saw the graffiti.

Wajchman said he hadn’t seen any other graffiti nearby like the one that appeared on his window, and that he was not sure if his business was targeted because it is Jewish-owned. “Gang or not a gang, to choose that kind of sign is just unfortunate,” he said.

Shelton told Pioneer Press that no one was in custody as of Monday and the investigation was still active. She said if anyone has any information regarding the incident to contact the Skokie Police Department at (847) 982-5900.