It's pretty common practice for high school seniors to pull a prank during the last few weeks of the school year. But one senior prank at a New Jersey high school ended with police involvement.
"Sixty-two Teaneck High students were rounded up in a line, handcuffed one by one and hauled away in police vans after allegedly trashing their school." (Via WCBS)
WCBS says police arrived at the school shortly before 2:30 in the morning Thursday. They found graffiti on the walls, hot dogs taped to lockers, urine in the hallways, and desks and chairs flipped over.
Thirty-six of the students were released to their parents, but the two dozen who were 18 years or older were charged with burglary and criminal mischief.
Although some might have thought it would be a silly prank, the police were somber. Fox News reports Teaneck Police Sgt. John Garland said: "I just don't believe that a lot of them realize the seriousness of it as far as breaking into a building. That's a burglary and I don't think they understand that. It's a very serious offense."
WNBC spoke with several parents who had mixed reactions to the prank.
PARENT 1: "I know he thought it was fun and games, but it's real life. It's not fun and games."
PARENT 2: "This is a yearly harmless prank."
Now, in hindsight, the seniors who didn't partake in the prank seem pretty happy with their decision.
One told NJ.com: "I didn't take part because I knew the consequences I was going to face. I'm a football player, I'm an athlete, so I didn't want my scholarships taken away from me."
Crews worked through the night to get the school back in order for Thursday classes. The school district's superintendent says she and the district are currently discussing disciplinary action for those seniors who took part in the prank.
