A car in the Waterside area of Derry city had "UFF" and "Taigs out" scratched into its paintwork in what the PSNI is treating as a sectarian hate crime.
The damage to the car is believed to have been caused at around 1am on Sunday, and was reported to police shortly after 8am.
UUP councillor Darren Guy told Belfast Live the victim is a woman who has lived in the area for a long time and is being offered support by neighbours who are "disgusted" by the incident.
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A spokesperson for the PSNI said: "Police in Derry/Londonderry received a report shortly after 8am on Sunday 16 February that criminal damage had been caused to a vehicle parked in Bann Drive in the Waterside. This is being treated as a sectarian hate crime."
Councillor Guy said: "It's happened around one in the morning they reckon." He said the incident follows anti social behaviour involving groups of young people in the area.
"They are just going around terrorising everybody, especially elderly people," he said. "Whoever is responsible for this, it seems likely, knows the area. This lady has been there her whole life. Her family is there, everybody knows them. She is well liked and respected by her neighbours. Everybody is disgusted by this and you can see that from the reaction to what has happened."
He added: "This is a step up from previous incidents in the area, however, because this is clearly sectarian."
A police spokesperson added: "While the damage was observed in Bann Drive, enquiries are ongoing to establish exactly where and when this occurred, and police appeal to anyone with information to call 101, quoting reference 413 of 16/02/25 or, submit a report online via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport. Alternatively, information can be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org."
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