Police called as gangs go on snowball rampage

GANGS of youths went on snowball rampages, across Southampton.

Residents were inundating police and non-emergency phone lines with reports of mass groups targeting the windows of their homes.

In some incidents up to 30 youngsters were said to have been involved, also hurling snowballs at moving cars.

A bus driver was forced to call the non-emergency 101 number after his double-decker became stuck along with two cars in the icy conditions in the Coxford area of the city.

With passengers on board, the 17A First service became surrounded by up to 30 people who were throwing snowballs at the windows.

In Wakefield Road and nearby Cornwall Road in Bitterne residents were reporting between 20 and 30 children causing a nuisance by going into the road and stopping traffic, also throwing snoballs at people’s windows.

Meanwhile, in River View Road, about 20 youths were having snowball fights and hitting the front windows of houses.

Outside Sainsbury’s in the Lordshill District Centre, shoppers and staff reported about 20 teenagers aged between 15 and 18 launching snowballs at each other, while some of the group wearing hoodies and tracksuit bottoms targeted a bus stop outside.

Meanwhile in Old Redbridge Road and nearby Brunel Road, about six children aged between 12 and 15 were targeting local houses and cars. Police officers on patrol in Townhill Park also came under a snowball attack as they travelled through Meggeson Avenue.

Comments(22)

Boris Remmington says...
1:57pm Tue 3 Feb 09

So where were Sainsbury's very own police force?

itsmehere says...
2:17pm Tue 3 Feb 09

Police officers on patrol in Townhill Park also came under a snowball attack as they travelled through Meggeson Avenue.


LOL!!

Boris Remmington says...
2:54pm Tue 3 Feb 09

ECHO INCITEMENT EARLIER TODAY

UP to 400 people are expected to flock to Southampton Common this lunchtime for a mass snowball fight.

The event has been arranged on a social networking site for around 1pm near the Cowherds pub on The Avenue.

Are you going down to the snowball fight? Send us your pictures!


Miles Sway says...
3:06pm Tue 3 Feb 09

So basically kids getting an rare opportunity to throw snowballs then? anyone hurt? any real damage done? No.
Still, thank heavens the snow will be gone in a few days and they can get back to drugs, stabbing each other, muggings et al....

helhod says...
3:16pm Tue 3 Feb 09

Not just kids morons too throwing snowballs with stones i them at buses windscreens .in forest hills drive some teens ran out in front of the number 3 this morning with a spade full of snow and chucking it at the windows .IDIOTS
gangs of youths in Northem when opening the doors for passengers thowing snow at the driver and who ever is getting on the bus

10 Minute Man says...
3:22pm Tue 3 Feb 09

When I were a lad....

Well anyway, when I was their age, we'd start snowball fights with others who looked like they would be up for a bit of a laugh. Not just random stupidity with people obviously not interested and going about their business, which is just loutish behaviour.

Still I expect one of them will end up with a well deserved kicking. Ho, ho what fun.

BillyTheKid says...
3:24pm Tue 3 Feb 09

Perhaps BECAUSE of the association the media constantly attach to teens regarding drugs, knives, and assault, ordinary folk might get a little worried when surrounded by 30 of them. It is the media that has tarnished the reputation of the teenage community by giving such vast coverage to the actions of a tiny minority. Which headline do they prefer :

"Teenagers rampage through school after second stabbing in two weeks"

or

"Tens of thousands of teenagers behaved well this week."

Miles Sway says...
3:41pm Tue 3 Feb 09

helhod wrote:
Not just kids morons too throwing snowballs with stones i them at buses windscreens .in forest hills drive some teens ran out in front of the number 3 this morning with a spade full of snow and chucking it at the windows .IDIOTS
gangs of youths in Northem when opening the doors for passengers thowing snow at the driver and who ever is getting on the bus
If they had stones etc in them then I agree, totally moronic.
As 10 min man says I too remember as a kid throwing snowballs at anything/anyone that looked a good target, stupid and irresponsible I'm sure, but we never set out to hurt anyone and if these kids were doing the same it'd be hard to criticise, but I guess it's a sign of the times if these idiots have upped the violence level. What a shame

D'Arcy Sarto says...
4:06pm Tue 3 Feb 09

Maybe 'Just William' should have been sent to borstal.
Dear, dear...those kids eh...this week snowballs, next week they'll be scrumping! Where's it going to end? Knock and Scarper?

Reality-man says...
4:10pm Tue 3 Feb 09

Oh no...Children playing in the snow....How very dare you!

Baybrit says...
4:18pm Tue 3 Feb 09

Well make up your minds. 3 stories down from this one is 'Massive snowball fight planned for Southampton Common' and you make that sound like a wonderful community event. But this story makes it sound like a few kids throwing snowballs is akin to a gang riot in South Central L.A.

fatboy says...
4:20pm Tue 3 Feb 09

Kids throwing snowballs, who thought that up? Got to be the blame of a PS1,2 or 3 game.

Grand theft snowballs or something like that, it'll be apple scrumping next-why can't they just go and attack people while wearing their hoodies! Sometimes we all have to remember that maybe we threw the odd snowball in the past etc etc

King Mush says...
4:23pm Tue 3 Feb 09

How come all these sprogs are playing outside?

Isnt there a Wii Snowball Chucking game? They play tennis, skateboarding and much more in front of their 50" plasma TVs so why bother to leave home and annoy the rest of us?

downfader says...
5:49pm Tue 3 Feb 09

Miles Sway wrote:
So basically kids getting an rare opportunity to throw snowballs then? anyone hurt? any real damage done? No. Still, thank heavens the snow will be gone in a few days and they can get back to drugs, stabbing each other, muggings et al....
I think its great that kids got outside and played with snow.. but having said that I did see some kids throwing snowballs at moving cars this morning.

I suppose if you're the driver you wouldnt want your visability suddenly cut away from you or small stones and grit in the snowball to leave a load of scratches.

One guy on the cycle forums mentioned he was knocked from his bike by a snowball in the face iirc. I think he's from the north so its happened all over.

Miles Sway says...
6:14pm Tue 3 Feb 09

downfader wrote:
Miles Sway wrote:
So basically kids getting an rare opportunity to throw snowballs then? anyone hurt? any real damage done? No. Still, thank heavens the snow will be gone in a few days and they can get back to drugs, stabbing each other, muggings et al....
I think its great that kids got outside and played with snow.. but having said that I did see some kids throwing snowballs at moving cars this morning.

I suppose if you're the driver you wouldnt want your visability suddenly cut away from you or small stones and grit in the snowball to leave a load of scratches.

One guy on the cycle forums mentioned he was knocked from his bike by a snowball in the face iirc. I think he's from the north so its happened all over.
Agreed, I did clarify later as apparently they had stones in the snowballs!
Can't even have a bit of snowball fun without deliberately hurting someone else or their property, , little 8astards!



timjim says...
6:30pm Tue 3 Feb 09

Miles Sway wrote:
downfader wrote:
Miles Sway wrote: So basically kids getting an rare opportunity to throw snowballs then? anyone hurt? any real damage done? No. Still, thank heavens the snow will be gone in a few days and they can get back to drugs, stabbing each other, muggings et al....
I think its great that kids got outside and played with snow.. but having said that I did see some kids throwing snowballs at moving cars this morning. I suppose if you're the driver you wouldnt want your visability suddenly cut away from you or small stones and grit in the snowball to leave a load of scratches. One guy on the cycle forums mentioned he was knocked from his bike by a snowball in the face iirc. I think he's from the north so its happened all over.
Agreed, I did clarify later as apparently they had stones in the snowballs! Can't even have a bit of snowball fun without deliberately hurting someone else or their property, , little 8astards!
I have just had them attempt to open the doors on my car! I was doing 20 mph at the time!
Wakefield Road + Meggeson Avenue. Can I legally go there and aim my vehicle at them as technically if I am being bombarded by snowballs it would be self defence.
Very tempting. little w@nkers

Georgem says...
7:14pm Tue 3 Feb 09

Can I legally go there and aim my vehicle at them as technically if I am being bombarded by snowballs it would be self defence.


Alternatively, consider how difficult it would be to prove in court that you didn't simply lose control on the extremely slippery road, due to your vision suddenly becoming blocked by snowballs, and were therefore not at fault

sfc4lyf says...
7:17pm Tue 3 Feb 09

Get a life!
They are just kids having fun! It doesnt snow very often so let them enjoy it!

wonderfulme says...
7:39pm Tue 3 Feb 09

My kids had fun throwing snowballs at each other not at passing traffic.

ex so'ton says...
7:48pm Tue 3 Feb 09

They should have been at school making gigantic long slides across the playground, oh I suppose that has been banned as well. Down with 'elf an safety brigade. Comes with not having an ice rink I reckon!

Northamboy says...
8:37pm Tue 3 Feb 09

Children throwing snowballs?

Whatever next!

timjim says...
9:10am Wed 4 Feb 09

sfc4lyf wrote:
Get a life! They are just kids having fun! It doesnt snow very often so let them enjoy it!
Throwing snowballs fine, but as too often seen these days it goes too far, and threatens the safety of others. Kids these days are out of control - no respect, no morals and seemingly no cares.
I stand by my little w@nkers comment.

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