COLLINGSWOOD, N.J. — Authorities reported no arrests following a chaotic weekend in Collingswood, New Jersey, where hundreds of teenagers disrupted a haunted hayride fundraiser, looted a convenience store, and engaged in fights throughout residential neighborhoods.
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Local police said more than 200 teens were involved in the incidents on Saturday night, which unfolded in the small suburb of Philadelphia. Officials are now reassessing safety measures for future public events in response to what they described as a “new riotous trend.”
The mayhem began at Knight Park, where the town’s parent-teacher association was hosting a Halloween-themed fundraiser. Large groups of teenagers, many dropped off by car after 8 p.m., quickly started cutting in lines, fighting, and running through the event, disrupting the festivities. Local authorities decided to shut down the event, with assistance from neighboring police departments.
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As police worked to disperse the teens, a group of 50 to 70 youths descended on a nearby Wawa convenience store, stealing items and causing a disturbance. Authorities intervened, dispersing the crowd, and the store was forced to close for the evening.
At the same time, another group of approximately 80 teens engaged in what authorities described as a “massive fight” in a nearby residential area. Police eventually broke up the altercation.
No arrests were made immediately, and it remains unclear if any injuries were reported. However, the Collingswood police and the borough’s mayor confirmed in a statement on Monday that an investigation is ongoing, and further actions may be taken as more details emerge.
