Oct 18, 2007 7:14 am US/Eastern
Newest Halloween Horror: Frozen Paintball Prank
Paintball Shops In Suffolk County Won't Sell Paintballs On Halloween
AMITYVILLE, N.Y. (CBS) ―
-
-
Pranksters are using frozen paintballs to vandalize homes and Suffolk County police expect to see an uprising of incidents on Halloween.
AP
Move over eggs. There's a new Halloween prank taking aim at houses on Long Island, and this one can cause damage far worse than any old yolk.
Paintball gun are being used in a growing trend of vandalism, but the pranksters are going much farther than using a typical paintball -- now they're freezing them, police tell CBS 2 HD.
Amityville resident Goldie Avritte was petrified when she awoke last week in the middle of the night, hearing her house being struck by the paintballs that can travel hundreds of miles per hour.
"This was the most frightening it was shot because it's right next to the window," Avritte said.
The frozen paintballs struck right next to the window of Avritte's bedroom, slamming into the siding 18 times and leaving gaping holes for each one. Avritte hasn't been the only victim -- police tell CBS 2 HD that already there have been 15 other reports of houses damaged by the dangerous pellets.
"You have a 200 mph object (fired from) a .68 caliber, which is like a bigger size than almost any gun we would deal with, and if it hits you in the eye or another vulnerable spot, it can cause extensive damage," said Lt. Robert Edwards of the Suffolk County Police Department.
Last year, 25 homes in Suffolk County were struck by paintballs on Halloween.
With word spreading that pranksters are now freezing the ammunition, a number of businesses in Suffolk County, such as Cousins Paint Ball, say they won't sell paintballs as Halloween nears.
"We're closed during Halloween," said Dan Del Prete of Cousins Paintball. "We have some paperwork that anyone who buys a paintball gun must fill out."
Along with police, Avritte says she is still on high alert. With 18 holes to fix costing her $4,000, she's not taking any chances. She's now equipped the outside of her home with surveillance cameras.
"We're ready, and hopefully it never happens again," she said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Incredible Fighter Jets
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments