Ontario police are searching for vandals who desecrated three religious statues Monday night, Dec. 17, in Ontario with foul language and a pentagram.

The statues were part of two Nativity scenes that make up Christmas on Euclid in the median of Euclid Avenue between B through F streets.

Mary is seen in “The Presentation” display of the Nativity Scenes, as part of the Christmas on Euclid Experience, on Euclid Ave in downtown Ontario on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. The Mary statue was recently vandalized, but has since been repaired. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

A pedestrian walks by “The Light of the World” display as the Nativity Scenes are seen as part of the Christmas on Euclid Experience on Euclid Ave in downtown Ontario on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. The Jesus statue was recently vandalized, but has since been repaired. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

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A woman sits on a bench in front of one of the Nativity Scenes, which is part of the Christmas on Euclid Experience, on Euclid Ave in downtown Ontario on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Three statues standing in two of the dioramas depicting the life of Jesus along the Euclid Ave. median in Ontario were vandalized on Monday night, Dec. 18, 2018. Police discovered the vandalism quickly enough that they were able to clean the statues before the paint dried posts on Facebook. (Photo courtesy of Jeffery Crittenden, Ontario Police Dept.)

Jesus is seen in “The Light of the World” display as the Nativity Scenes are seen as part of the Christmas on Euclid Experience on Euclid Ave in downtown Ontario on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. The Jesus statue was recently vandalized, but has since been repaired. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)



The baby Jesus is seen in “The Presentation” display of the Nativity Scenes, as part of the Christmas on Euclid Experience, on Euclid Ave in downtown Ontario on Tuesday, December 18, 2018. The baby Jesus statue was recently vandalized, but has since been repaired. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

“It’s upsetting to see,” said Detective Jeff Crittenden with the Ontario Police Department. Crittenden was called to the holiday display around 8 p.m. Monday when someone noticed black and white paint on the face of a Jesus statue. “People were in shock to see what happened.”

When Crittenden arrived, the paint on the statue was still wet, so he was able to easily wipe the large figure clean, he said. An inspection of the other displays revealed vandals had defaced two other statues: One of the Virgin Mary and of baby Jesus.

“Someone put a pentagram on the baby Jesus and an obscenity on Mary’s forehead,” Crittenden said.

He was able to clean the two other statues as well.

“This was a deliberate act,” he said Tuesday and explained there is a 2-foot fence around the 12 displays to keep the nativities safe, but the vandals jumped the fence to get to the statues.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have security video or suspect description,” he said.

Christmas on Euclid is an annual event that features 12 historic Nativity scenes that have been restored and preserved by the Nativity on Euclid Landmark Committee. Started in 1958, this year marks the 60th anniversary.

Upset attendees posted photos of the defaced statues to social media expressing their disbelief.

“It is with great sadness that someone could be so evil and disrespectful,” wrote a woman on Facebook. “I am heartbroken.”

Police are asking anyone who may have seen anything related to the vandalism to call the Ontario Police Department at 909-395-2001.