WANTAGE -- Authorities are investigating anti-Semitic graffiti and vandalism found on Sunday morning at the Airport Diner.

WANTAGE -- Authorities are investigating anti-Semitic graffiti and vandalism found on Sunday morning at the Airport Diner.

One side and the rear of the building were spray-painted with swastikas and other anti-Semitic language, including "Kill Jews," "Heil Hitler," "WPWW," an acronym for "white power world wide," "14/88," a combination of two white supremacist numeric symbols, and several SS lightning bolts. A walk-in freezer in the back of the restaurant had also been vandalized with its contents strewn about.

Sgt. Jeff Flynn, spokesman for the New Jersey State Police, said police responded to the diner on Route 639 at approximately 7 a.m. on Sunday. Flynn said the incident is still under investigation.

The diner's owner, Francisco Blanco, discovered the graffiti and vandalism when he arrived early Sunday morning. Blanco, who has owned the business for 12 years, did not comment to the media on Sunday but allowed several employees to speak on his behalf.

Diner employees said they were "shocked," "angry," and in "total disbelief" at what they found when they arrived for their Sunday morning shift.

"I didn't know what to think," said Miguel Velez, of Wantage. "Why here, of all places?"

Velez, 20, said his family moved to Sussex County from West Orange a little more than decade ago to get away from gang violence and intimidation that had begun to creep into their old neighborhood. He said instances such as this one, although rare, are concerning.

"They took their time," Velez said of whoever did it. "They wanted to do it, but I just don't know why here."

Sharon Smith, of Frankford, said she arrived for her shift around 6:40 a.m., and wasn't really sure of what she was seeing on the building. Once she realized what it was, Smith said she could not believe what she was seeing.

She said state troopers were on the scene for almost three hours collecting evidence.

"They were dumb enough to leave a bunch of evidence behind for the state troopers to find," she said, noting, among other things, that police dusted the freezer door for fingerprints.

Smith, 45, has worked at the diner on-and-off for several years. She said the restaurant has a family feel to it where people know one another by name. By mid-morning, customers and surrounding businesses were calling the diner offering to help clean up the graffiti, Smith said.

"They're all in shock," she said. "No one knows what to think about it."

The diner was open on Sunday and one couple, on their way out after lunch, remarked that the vandalism was "just plain nasty."

Smith called it "random acts of stupidity."

"I want to believe it's a bunch of young kids that don't know the meanings of the messages, they think it's a cool thing to do or whatever," she said. "But, in another sense, you just don't know anymore."

Anyone with information is asked to call the New Jersey State Police, Sussex Barracks: 973-383-1515.

David Danzis can also be contacted on Facebook: ddanzisNJH, on Twitter: @ddanzisNJH, or by phone: 973-383-1274.