A Staten Island house owner was caught with a hefty restore invoice after a gaggle of vandals smashed via his fence, probably as a part of a web-based development.
Video of the incident confirmed a a gaggle of individuals — believed to be youngsters — rammed their approach via Ben Helwa’s fence at his dwelling within the Eltingville neighborhood in early April.
“There was a flash light with a camera so I believe they were recording a video,” stated Helwa.
The house owner stated the vandalism could have stemmed from an web development that has change into often called the Kool-Help Man problem, impressed by the basic commercials relationship again to the 80s. Within the TV advertisements, the Kool-Help man would bust via partitions as he stated “Oh yea!” and promoted the favored powdered drink combine.
Now teenagers are imitating the sugary mascot for likes and views on social media, in line with police.
A bunch of vandals additionally ran although a fence in close by Prince Bay early Monday morning. Whereas it was not instantly clear whether or not it was the identical group accountable, police stated it was the third reported incident in latest months.
Lengthy Island skilled the same drawback in 2023. It bought so out of hand, Suffolk County Crime Stoppers launched video to trace down leads. A retired New York Metropolis correction officer was one of many targets of the prank at the moment.
At the very least 5 separate incidents have been reported to Suffolk County police in a two-month span on the time. Cops made some arrests in connection to the incidents.
The development seems to have picked again up, this time on Staten Island, leaving victims like Helwa to choose up the harm and a pricey restore tab, all within the identify of snickers or on-line clout.
“I didn’t find it so funny waking up finding out I have big cost ahead to repair my fence,” stated Helwa.
