Police are investigating a possible hate crime in NDG where residents were shocked to find red swastikas scrawled on the hoods of four cars.

One car had its windshield smashed and a pickaxe left in front of the car.

Envelopes with swastika symbols were placed on five cars. Inside one envelope, police found a bullet and a threatening message saying “You’re going to get one of these in your head.”

A fire alarm alerted residents Monday at 10 p.m. in their apartment building on Cote-Saint-Luc Road near Hampton Avenue. One of the residents searched every floor and discovered the vandalized vehicles in their underground parking lot.

One of the victims, Daniel, said he is shaken up by the crime. He wants to stay anonymous because he's worried about retaliation. His car had a swastika on the hood, a bullet-containing envelope under the wipers, and a tire jack next to it on the floor.

“It was crazy,” said Daniel. “I was shocked. You don’t expect that to happen. NDG is such a quiet neighbourhood.”

Daniel said there is no doubt in his mind that this was a hate crime.

“It seems random, but it took preparation to make those envelopes,” said Daniel. “It’s not kids running in the streets.”

Police investigators searched the building until 6 a.m. Tuesday.

"Crime scene technicians are still analyzing every clue that could possibly lead to an arrest, but for now we consider it a hate crime. All and all an investigation will determine what really happened," said Montreal police spokesperson Cst. Abdullah Emran.

There are no security cameras where the cars were parked so police are asking anyone with information to contact them.

Daniel is unsure whether he wants to continue living in the apartment building unless the owner improves security.

“There’s an underlying fear. Who knows if they’re going to come back,” said Daniel.

Rabbi Reuben Poupko calls the acts "ominous” and says they’re more than just vandalism, given recent deadly attacks against Jews in Paris and Copenhagen.

“The level of concern that people have expressed about this is much greater than it would have been eight or 10 months ago because of the increasing incidents of anti-Semitism and violence against Jews elsewhere,” he said.

There are no security cameras where the cars were parked so police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 514-393-1133.