Police in Hampton are asking for the public’s help to investigate the alleged theft of an Israeli flag that was displayed on a truck parked on Winnacunnet Road over the weekend. Phil Bean, a former selectman, had draped an American flag and an Israeli flag over the side of his 1987 green Dodge pickup truck about a week after Hamas terrorists attacked Israel. The vehicle was parked in front of the Hampton Fire Department when the Israeli flag disappeared between Friday night, Nov. 3, and 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov 4. Bean believes this was a hate crime and has reported it to the Hampton police. Police Captain Anthony Azarian said they have no witnesses yet but hope to find surveillance footage. Anybody with information or video evidence that could help can contact Charlie Karpenko at 603-929-4444 ext. 368 or via email at [email protected]. Anonymous tips can be made through the Crimeline for the Hamptons at 603-929-1222. Bean said that the Israeli flag was displayed to show support for the Jewish people, specifically the memory of Anne Frank, a German Jewish girl who died in 1945 in the Nazi Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. President Joe Biden’s recent condemnation of antisemitic speech and actions in the nation has made Bean happy. Hampton’s Police Chief Alex Reno mentioned that they are the lead investigators on this case and must determine what happened before they label it as a hate crime.
Read the full article on Portsmouth Herald: Hampton police seek tips after Israeli flag removed from truck
