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Police Investigating Potentially Dangerous Vandalism In Hempfield Twp.

WESTMORELAND COUNTY (KDKA) -- Pennsylvania State Police are asking for the public's help in a case of vandalism that began with spray painting, but became much more serious, causing two adults and tow juveniles to flee to safety over the weekend.

It began with someone spray painting the word racist on the garage door of a home in the 1300-block of Swede Hill Road in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County. Police did not release the names of the occupants.

No one was home when we went there today -- but the story does not end there.

"Also that same evening he had his 2006 Ford F-150 that was set on fire. We believe those two incidents are related," said Trooper Steve Limani.

The property is singed as a result of the fire to the truck.

There was also damage to a vehicle next to the truck and there's plenty of damage to the house. Nobody was injured, but it could have been a lot worse.

"The fact that the vehicle is lit inside and that's a neighborhood type of area with the vehicle being parked close, there could have been any kind of catastrophe with explosions and things of that nature when you're talking about lighting a vehicle on fire," said Limani. "It's very dangerous."

The owner told police he thinks the original spray painting may have been related to some of the political bumper stickers he's had on his vehicle. But no one is certain at this point why so much damage was done here.

State Police in Greensburg say anybody with information about this case should call the state police fire marshal unit.

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