Satanic messages were spray-painted on some 40 gravestones in the Egg Harbor Cemetery between Sunday night and Monday morning.
Some of the damaged gravestones are about 150 years old. Workers discovered the vandalism on Monday morning.
It appeared the writing was randomly applied, sprayed in an area of the property obscured by some of the larger graves and far from nearby roads and homes.
The vandals painted marks of the devil, 666, pentagrams, references to Satan and profanity against God. A small building bore the words 'black goddess' and a swastika.
The cemetery sits at the intersection of Moss Mill Road and Hamburg Avenue on the border of Egg Harbor City and Mullica Township. Egg Harbor City runs the cemetery, and police in both municipalities are investigating.
Police say it could cost several thousand dollars to remove the graffiti.
This is the second time in two years this cemetery has been vandalized.
Police are investigating, but say they do not have any suspects so far. However, at one gravesite, there are footprints and police have taken molds.
Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call the Mullica Township Police Department at 609-561-7600 or report their tip to the Atlantic County Crime Stoppers hotline at 609-652-1234.
