Swastikas and hate speech spray-painted in red defaced several properties in a Manalapan neighborhood early Thursday morning, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

The words "kill the Jews" were painted on a white-picket fence in the Monmouth Heights neighborhood and swastikas were on 10 to 15 objects including cars, electrical boxes and houses, said Jeffrey Salkin, ADL New Jersey community director at the Anti-Defamation League. Monmouth County police and the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office are investigating the incident.

Salkin condemned the hate speech and said the organization was saddened by the incident.

"The swastika is a universal symbol of hate, meant to instill fear and intimidation. By targeting multiple locations the perpetrators in this case intended to send a message to the entire community," he said in a statement.

The Jewish Federation of Monmouth County coincidentally held a workshop on security Wednesday night as Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah are approaching and will draw thousands of people to local synagogues, said Keith Krivitzky, executive director at the Jewish Federation.

"I'm sure as a result to this there will be heightened security," he said.

The police department and prosecutor's office could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.