Monmouth Beach Police Reject Mischief Night Excuses for Vandalism

Monmouth Beach police responded to multiple calls of disorderly conduct and property damage on Mischief Night, Friday, Oct. 30.

Officers dispatched units throughout the borough to address reports of criminal mischief. When they summoned parents to the police headquarters to collect their children, some guardians defended the destructive acts. The department stated that multiple parents dismissed the damage as just Mischief Night.

Police clarified that the holiday does not grant permission to damage municipal, school, or personal property. Vandalism and destruction of property are crimes, not traditions, the department said. Officers are currently reviewing security camera footage from various locations to identify those involved. The department plans to file formal charges against anyone responsible for the damage.

Police urged parents to discuss accountability and respect for the community with their children. The department also asked residents with information or security footage to contact them.

The warning in Monmouth Beach coincided with similar incidents across New Jersey. In Bergen County, police issued a blunt warning to parents after approximately 200 high school-aged teens reportedly bounced between house parties in Fair Lawn on Friday night. Large groups of kids were also reported in Glen Rock and Saddle Brook. A Ridgewood homeowner was cited for excessive noise last week during a gathering of more than 100 teenagers that left a fence destroyed.

Mischief Night, also known as Cabbage Night in parts of New Jersey, occurs the night before Halloween and is traditionally associated with pranks.