A Colorado man is claiming that the theft of a "Vote Satan" sign from his property amounts to a hate crime.

Luigi Bellavite, who is a member of the Church of Satan, reportedly had the sign hanging outside his Mountain View home next to an American flag. 

In an interview with local station KMGH-TV, Bellavite said he and his wife chose to display the sign "because it symbolizes freedom from dogmas."

Bellavite said that when the sign was stolen, police classified the case as a theft, but Bellavite believes it constitutes a hate crime, according to the station. 

"If it was the Star of David, absolutely it would be a hate crime," he said. "There are such double standards that some religions and some ideas are protected and others are not."

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