By Stella Inger
NewsChannel 3

A gay couple in Palm Springs is outraged tonight. Their new apartment was burglarized and vandalized on Tuesday and tonight, police are calling it a hate crime.

The couple's home was completely ransacked. They tell us losing their material possessions alone was a traumatic experience, but what's even more bothering to the couple is the alleged hate that was left behind.

"Our life meant nothing to someone. It's the only thing we have."

Someone broke in and trashed James Perre's and Dan Desiato's Palm Springs apartment while they were at work on Tuesday.

"For hatred. It's apparent from the graffiti, it's apparent from the personal items that are torn up. We hate you because you're not like us."

"We sold everything when we moved from the East Coast to move to Palm Springs and they've ruined everything that was of value to us."

The couple has only lived in the desert for a month. They say they moved to Palm Springs because they know the city has a large gay population and thought they found a place they could finally call home.

"Someone basically, once again, says we're worth nothing because it goes against what they believe. And we have to suffer with memories gone and thing that can't be replaced."

Meanwhile, police say despite Palms Springs' population, unfortunately, hate crime like these still happen.

"We take these types of crimes very seriously. Any invasion of the home, your private place is very serious it's a felony."

And while the holidays are just around the corner, this couple says they won't be celebrating.

"It's just calendar days. There are no holiday now. We don't have a Christmas. We don't have a Hanukah."

James and Dan say they're now thinking about moving back to North Carolina. But for now, the owner of the apartment complex is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone with information about this hate crime.

If you have any information, call Palm Springs Police.