BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A hangman's noose was found outside a spiritual bookstore in Bakersfield run by a self-proclaimed witch.

Police are calling the noose discovered at Altar Bookshoppe, which sells occult books and supplies in Old Town Kern suspicious.

Bookstore owner Katie Oliveras said she had not experienced any previous problems in the neighborhood and takes the finding of the noose as a death threat.

Oliveras also said that if the point of the noose was to make the bookstore leave the community, it didn’t work. She doesn't plan on leaving the community and Oliveras said the community is rallying around the bookstore.

Police are still investigating and said it's too early to tell if the occurrence is a hate crime.

The bookstore has been in the area for more than two years.