Citizens on Patrol in Towson Takes on 'Mischief Prevention'

The Towson Area Citizens on Patrol issued the following statement on Wednesday, Oct. 29:

Tomorrow evening, “Mischief Night,” Towson Area Citizens on Patrol (COP) will be out in force, patrolling Towson streets to deter Halloween pranksters and troublemakers on the eve of Halloween.

Working in partnership with the Baltimore County Police, COP Mischief Prevention Patrols will discourage mischievous acts like egg throwing and wrapping trees, porches and cars with rolls of toilet paper in downtown Towson and its 25 surrounding neighborhoods.

While most pranks are not crimes, tossing raw eggs at cars damages the car’s paint if it is not washed off immediately and raw egg fights leave a mess which residents and businesses have to clean up. In the last 14 years, COP volunteers have established a visible presence in Towson on Mischief Night and serve as a deterrent to pranks and delinquent activity.

TACOP’s Mischief Night, which is open to the public, starts at 6p.m. on Oct. 30 at the Baltimore County Police Hillendale Resource Center located at 1055 Taylor Avenue. Attendees are asked to bring hats, gloves and scarves to donate to the Shelters and Family Crisis Center. After the COP volunteers network, compare notes on their neighborhoods patrols and enjoy light refreshments, the Mischief Prevention patrol schedule is reviewed. Patrols commence at 7 PM and run through midnight.

Most COP volunteer drivers will have magnetized signs on their cars identifying them as COP patrollers and a blinking light on the car’s roof, although others will be unmarked as they patrol. Patrollers carry their cell phones and call 911 if they see suspect activity.

For more information refer to http://towsonareacop.wordpress.com/about/.

Egging a car may damage its paint. Photo Credit: Reading Patch.