By Jessica Easthope
A spree of religious statue thefts are being investigated as hate crimes by the NYPD. Within the last month, several religious statues have been stolen from outside homes and businesses in southwestern Queens. Local elected officials, civic leaders and community members say Catholics are being targeted and once someone is caught they are pushing for legal consequences. A missing St. Anthony statue that sat for decades outside of a Howard Beach medical office was swiftly replaced and secured with a lock and chain. Local leaders say the stolen statues in Howard Beach and Ozone Park represent generational faith for families and communities.