Homes and cars in Monroe being hit with orange and pink paintballs

Written by Brad Durrell
Tuesday, 24 January 2012 03:49

The western part of Monroe, particularly in the northwest corner near the Newtown and Easton borders, has become a hotbed of paintball-related vandalism. Orange and pink appear to be the color of choice for the suspect or suspects.

Paintball attacks on vehicles and homes have been reported on Gaylor Drive, Guinea Road, Horizon Court, Pastors Walk and Riding Ridge Road in the past week or so, as well as at the Great Oak Farm residential development.

On the morning of Jan. 22, a Guinea Road resident found his parked car had been hit with four orange paintballs and his home had been hit with four orange paintballs. One of the paintballs “punched a hole through the siding” of the house, according to police.

The homeowner said someone in his home had heard unusual noises outside around midnight, but presumed it was snow falling from the roof after the snowstorm.

Four paintball incidents in one night

On the evening of Jan. 22, a total of four paintball incidents were reported — another on Guinea Road, two on nearby Gaylor Drive, and one on nearby Riding Ridge Road. All these incidents involved orange paintballs on homes or vehicles.

On Jan. 17, a Pastors Walk house was hit by two pink paintballs. One landed on the front door and the other on a large glass window in the front of the home. The northern part of Pastors Walk intersects with Guinea Road.

A Horizon Court resident reported Jan. 16 that two vehicles on her property were damaged by pink paintballs. One vehicle was hit by paintballs five times on the passenger side and rear trunk, breaking a rear light, and the other vehicle was struck four times on the passenger side. Horizon Court is near Guinea Road.

Great Oak Farm problems

An incident on Pequot Court, in a different area, occurred on Jan. 18. Pequot Court is in the Great Oak Farm residential community, off Cutlers Farm Road.

A Pequot Court resident contacted police at 7:50 a.m. when he found a pink paintball had hit his home, puncturing his vinyl siding, and a pink paintball had hit his vehicle.

The resident said at about 5:30 the previous evening, several noises had been heard outside but no one in the family had investigated the situation at the time.

A representative of the Great Oak Farm Homeowners Association contacted police Jan. 17 to report that several residences within the complex had been hit by pink paintballs.

Police advice

Police said paintball stains generally wash off surfaces, but not always, and the projectiles used in paintballs can break windows and dent home siding and cars. This is especially true in the winter, when the cold weather makes surfaces such as vinyl siding more brittle and therefore susceptible to damage.

Monroe Police Lt. Brian H. McCauley said problems with paintball vandalism have been sporadic in the past in Monroe, and this appears to be a new level of intensity. “It’s getting to be a real nuisance,” he said, noting whoever is caught can be charged with criminal mischief and other crimes.

McCauley said residents should keep a look out for any suspicious behavior. “If you hear noise, look out to see if anyone is driving away,” he said. “Any information that can be given to the police is helpful.”

He also said listening to what school-age youngsters are saying can provide tips, if the suspect or suspects should happen to be of the same age.

Police patrols are expected to increase in the impacted areas.