Corinth Police Urge Safe Fall Pranks as Halloween Nears

With Halloween two weeks away, Corinth police are asking teens to keep fall pranks safe and legal. Chief Landon Tucker says rolling yards is a classic tradition, but the department has seen jokes go too far.

The Daily Corinthian reported Monday that officials across the area are encouraging safe fun during the spooky season, when toilet-papering trees, also known as “TP-ing,” is a common teenage prank.

Where a Prank Becomes a Crime

Tucker said yard-rolling and vandalism are not the same thing. “We have had issues where people have taken things too far,” he told the newspaper. He added that his own yard was rolled several times last year and nothing was damaged.

According to the report, a prank can turn criminal when it involves:

• Trespassing on private property
• Damaging property
• Egging homes or vehicles
• Spraying graffiti
• Breaking windows
• Frightening people

Advice for Teens and Parents

Officials say pranksters should not use tape or trash, should not vandalize anything, and should only roll yards of people who would take it in good fun. Parents may want to remind teens that a joke on someone who did not agree to it can lead to a police report.

Other police departments in the area told the newspaper they also will not tolerate pranks that cause damage or disturbances.

Reporting Property Damage

Residents who are victims of property damage or trespassing are urged to contact their local police department’s non-emergency line rather than 911, unless someone is in immediate danger.

The warning follows a similar one from the Baldwyn Police Department earlier this month. Read our earlier coverage: Baldwyn police yard-rolling warning.

Corinth police safety tips are a reminder that the best Halloween pranks are the ones that leave nothing to clean up the next morning.

Source: Daily Corinthian