It’s a perfect cottage on a quiet tree-lined street in an upscale area of Sydney’s inner west.
But at one point in the early hours of Monday morning, it was hit by vandals seeking to cause a nuisance, alarm and tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage.
They sprayed gallons of blood-red paint over the immaculate white walls of the two-million-dollar two-bedroom house where a widow in her eighties lives alone.
The incident has completely baffled her neighbors in Leichhardt – with locals putting forward numerous theories, but few answers, as to why the house was brutally attacked and who the sinister figure was responsible.
A lady who lived a few doors down and would not give her name for fear of being targeted herself said she was “completely stunned” by the attack.
Vandals sprayed liters of blood-red paint over the immaculate white walls of a house where an ‘old widow’ lives
Daily Mail visited Australia on Wednesday while the cleanup was underway
“I was the one who called the police after my husband called me on my way to work in the morning,” she said.
“The poor lady was really upset and upset. What a sad and horrible thing to do to an old lady – especially to a lady who lives alone.
‘We’ve never seen anything like it – it’s a pretty friendly street. To do that to an old widow who lives alone is just disgusting.”
Another suburban neighbor, affectionately nicknamed Little Italy for its Italian delis and trattorias, was more blunt.
“Scum — utter scum,” he said.
“My wife saw it on Facebook, so I went to check it out. It’s disgusting. She’s a beautiful girl and I don’t know why they would have done it, but they’re scum.’
The man, who is new to the area, said he would install cameras outside his home.
Daily Mail visited Australia on Wednesday as a day-long arduous clean-up operation was underway.
Despite starting around 9 a.m., the four-person cleaning team continued into the late afternoon using power hoses, scrub brushes and microfiber cloths.
“It’s oil-based red paint and it stains like dirt,” one of the cleaners said.
The victim of the horrific attack, who has lived in the house for more than 30 years, declined to speak about the disturbing incident.
The listed house is believed to have been renovated in 2019.
An elderly man who lived across the street said he thought “young people” were responsible.
Neighbors were ‘completely stunned’ by the attack, with one labeling the vandals ‘scum’
“It happened in the middle of the night. When she woke up in the morning, it was there. I think they filled those plastic squirt guns with paint and sprayed them,” he said.
“How else could they have shot him so high? It’s on the roof. There is a big jacaranda in front of the house so they would be well hidden while they are on it.
‘She’s sweet, very kind. We know her to say hello. Often she is walking with her daughter.
Another neighbor said: ‘It’s cowardly and totally baffling’
“They must have attacked the house for some reason, even if it’s a case of mistaken identity. As if they were kids being stupid, there’s an empty old hotel across the road that they could have spray painted.’
A customer at the Billy Lou Kids Shoe store at the end of the street said he was “shocked” by the vandalism.
“It’s a beautiful area, very family oriented, from little kids to teens,” she said.
‘It is also a pleasant neighbourhood, people look out for each other. But you can have rat bags everywhere.
Another added: ‘It’s a really nice, peaceful area. I’ve never experienced anything like this in the past.’
There was an outpouring of anger at the vandals and support for the victim on social media.
Denise Tierney wrote that it was “like a murder scene.”
It’s mean and hurtful to the poor resident.’
The house (pictured) is estimated to be worth $2 million
Annie Gripton said she hopes police “arrest whoever is responsible.”
“How awful and frightening for those who live there,” she wrote.
“I walked past it this afternoon and was stunned.”
John McWhorter noted, “Also oil-based paint. It will be an expensive nightmare to clean. A horrible act of vandalism, I think, with some kind of super soaker.’
Police remained tight-lipped about possible motives for the vandalism.
“Officers of the Leichhardt Police Area Command received a report of vandalism on Monday (March 20, 2023),” a NSW Police spokeswoman said.
“The investigation into this incident is continuing.”