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Store Owner Says Stolen Flags Constitute a 'Hate Crime'
Published January 13, 2015
A Massachusetts woman says the disappearance of six Brazilian flags from outside her business is a sign of hatred toward her home country.
Lucy Duarte, a Brazilian native who has been an American citizen for 20 years, says she has flown both the Brazilian and U.S. flags outside of her Hyannis, Mass., jewelry and perfume store for the past decade.
Duarte, who has been in the United States for 30 years, told the Cape Cod Times that she had practiced raising both flags and lowering them daily, but had permanently affixed them after a family member voiced concern about her climbing a ladder so often.
And that's reportedly when the theft began.
"This is a hate crime," she told the paper, explaining that while sometimes an American flag disappears, more often a Brazilian flag is taken and the actions are more severe.
"One time the Brazilian flag was cut in two and left on the ground. Another time the Brazilian flag was left with burn marks," she told the paper.
Duarte has spent close to $1,000 to replace the flags, but says that it's not about the money, it's about the actions.
In the most recent incident, the flags were stolen from a post 10 feet above the sidewalk.
"This is not some kid or some drunk. This is someone determined to show hatred," she told the paper.
Duarte has notified the police and described their response as "very good, very responsive," but at the same time acknowledged that it is very difficult for them to take action unless they catch someone in the act.
Other merchants around the area couldn't remember various other national flags being stolen, according to the paper.
Click to read more on the story from The Cape Cod Times
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/store-owner-says-stolen-flags-constitute-a-hate-crime