Toronto police say they are “concerned” about anti-Semitic notes left on the doors of Jewish residents in Willowdale.

Spokesperson Mark Pugash told CP24 that while the city hasn’t seen a notable increase in hate crimes this year, they are taking the latest incident of a targeted attack “extremely seriously.”

“Every hate crime is concerning, not only to people on the receiving end but everyone in this city is concerned, as they should be,” Pugash said. “We take this extremely seriously, our investigators are very, very experienced.

Post-it notes with pen-drawn swastikas were left on the doors of seven Jewish homes inside a building on Beecroft Road, located in the Yonge Street and Park Home Avenue area, Sunday night.

“No Jews” was also written on the notes. Some of the notes also contained anti-Semitic slurs and some neighbours reported that their mezuzahs – blessings traditionally posted on the doorways of Jewish homes – had been vandalized or stolen.

“To see my mezuzah off and on the ground. And it’s gone now. I don't even know where it is. I'm disturbed,” victim and resident Joanne Applebaum told CTV News Toronto on Monday. Applebaum is also a board member of the building.

A sign was put up that read: Please respect private property, your vandalism has been reported to police.

Local rabbis made their rounds to replace stolen mezuzahs Monday afternoon.

“If our Jewish identity is being threatened we need to strengthen our Jewish identity -- not God forbid hide under a rock and be ashamed,” said Rabbi Moshe Steiner.

“Whether we have to put cameras in, implement some plan. Something will be done. They will get caught, because I'm sure it's internal,” Applebaum said.

Another resident who came home to find her mezuzah vandalized said she was “shocked.”

“It’s naturally very disturbing,” Helen Chaiton said. “I come from the Holocaust – my parents came to Canada in 1948 after the war. So I’m very familiar with anti-Semitism and I know historically what ensues.”

Chaiton said her rabbi helped her post a new mezuzah today after hers was vandalized last week. Then this evening a neighbour knocked on her door to alert her to a disturbing note that was posted on his door.

“So this really is a very serious indication of the illness that is prevailing that’s resurgent now again,” Chaiton said.

When asked about possible video surveillance in the area, Pugash said officers will look at all evidence to help identify a suspect.

“As soon as we have any other evidence, we will put it out,” he said.

While the incident is anti-Semitic, Pugash said investigators are looking to see if it meets the legal threshold of a hate crime – an offence that is defined on the Toronto police website as:

“A criminal offence committed against a person or property that is based upon the victim's race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or any other similar factor.”

According to the latest report from the Toronto police hate crime unit, the Jewish community was the most targeted victim group in 2015 with 31 reported incidents. The Muslim community recorded 29 hate or bias incidents.

Over the weekend, the home of a Muslim family was vandalized after eggs were thrown at it.

“We're realizing very quickly now that this is a string of anti-religious sentiment that is on the rise,” said Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at spokesperson Safwan Choudhry.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at held a meeting today with national leaders to address the issue.

On Monday afternoon, Mayor John Tory released a written statement condemning the notes.

“Anti-Semitism has no place in Toronto. Our Jewish residents should not have to face hatred on their doorsteps,” he said.

“These acts, and the people who carry them out, do not represent Toronto or Torontonians. We do not stereotype or express hatred toward people on the basis of their faith, nationality, skin colour, sexual orientation or any other personal attribute. Rather, we embrace them and see them for who they are: our neighbours, co-workers, friends and fellow residents of a great inclusive city. The richness of our diversity has contributed immensely to that greatness, and while we have work to do on inclusion, we are admired the world over.”

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto also issued a written statement Monday afternoon saying they were alarmed.

“Like all acts of hatred and intolerance, these deliberate acts of hostility toward the Jewish community are completely unacceptable. There is absolutely no place for antisemitism – or any other form of hatred – in Canada,” said UJA Federation president and CEO Adam Minsky.

“CIJA is monitoring the situation and will be working closely with police to achieve a swift resolution.”