Theft of 'Vote Satan' Sign a Hate Crime, Couple Says

Police, neighbors think it's not such a big deal
By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 5, 2012 11:04 AM CDT
Theft of 'Vote Satan' Sign a Hate Crime, Couple Says
The Bellavistes of Mountain View, Colo., say a satanic sign stolen from their lawn was a hate crime.   (Shutterstock)

Sometimes being a Satanist can be a hell of a burden. That's what Luigi and Angie Bellaviste have discovered after someone stole their "Vote Satan" sign from their Colorado front porch—an act they'd like to be considered a hate crime. But police aren't biting, reports 7News. "Had that been the Star of David or a verse from the Koran ... that got damaged by somebody against those beliefs, that would certainly be considered a hate crime," said Luigi.

The Mountain View, Colo., couple say they don't bow down before a literal devil "with horns and a pitchfork"; but they do like that the religion "symbolizes freedom from dogmas." The Bellaviste front lawn also is home to an upside-down cross, fake spiders, the number 666, and some skulls. Neighbors say the Bellavistes' beliefs don't really bother them, and suspect the sign was just stolen by some rascally kids. Police are filing the incident as a theft. (More Satanism stories.)

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