Overnight Vandals Spray-Paint Plymouth Rock

Vandals hit Plymouth Rock and nearby memorials with red paint overnight, but if they had a message to impart, authorities haven't figured it out yet. Most of the vandalism at the Massachusetts landmarks was indecipherable, but the vandals did paint "508" and "MOF" legibly, reports USA Today. The area code of Plymouth is 508, though it's not clear whether that's the connection. The vandals also hit a statue, a monument, and other historical markers, and maintenance crews were busy power-washing them all. CBS Boston reports that the famous rock, symbolizing where Pilgrims stepped onto the shores of America, was pretty much cleaned by Monday afternoon.

"We are saddened and sickened by the recent vandalism in our historic town," tweeted town manager Melissa Arrighi, along with a photo of a vandalized statue. "This is just one of our historic monuments that was hit. We will begin clean up as soon as possible and the police are investigating." This year marks the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrim landing, and the town has been busy gearing up for celebrations set to begin this spring. The rock has previously been the target of vandals, but nothing on this scale, says Police Chief Michael Botieri. (More Plymouth Rock stories.)