WATCH: Virginia Couple's Car Defaced in Antigay Attack

A same-sex couple in Norfolk, Va., woke up one morning last week to find one of their cars vandalized, with the word "gay" spray-painted on the hood, which also bore a trail of dripped red nail polish, and other graffiti, including the word "bitch," on the doors, local TV station WVEC reports.

"It was a shock," the car's owner, Patricia Stacy, told the station. It was parked in the driveway of the home she shares with her wife, Andy Stacy. "It was the first car in my driveway, which means they were only steps away from my door," Patricia Stacy added.

The couple reported the vandalism to police, who are not treating it as a hate crime, WVEC reports. (Virginia hate-crimes law, by the way, does not cover crimes motivated by the victim's sexual orientation or gender identity.) The women said they believe they know who committed the vandalism and added that it's important to raise awareness of hate crimes.

"Hate crimes are real, and I'm glad this is getting out there so that people know that it does exist," Patricia Stacy said.

Watch the report below.