Holiday Revelers Briefly Mistaken As Thieves: Schuylkill Twp PD

SCHUYLKILL TOWNSHIP, PA — Police caught up with several college-aged residents home for the holidays, as their late night reveling was briefly mistaken for criminal activity.

The incident occurred at around 2:24 a.m. Wednesday morning in the area of Picket Post Lane and Encampment Circle in Schuylkill Township.

Police were called to the scene for suspicious activity as a group of people were slowly walking up and down the street, followed by a dark sedan.

Really, they were just college students celebrating raucously after arriving home for the holidays. But their behavior at the time of night was typical of thieves who go through unlocked vehicles looking for presents or gift cards to steal, police said.

When police arrived, seven or eight of the individuals ran from the scene. Police were able to capture one of them, at which point they determined it was a celebration, not a crime, that was happening.

"The responding officers then switched tactics and started checking nearby houses to make sure everyone was home safely and not laying in the freezing mud," the department said in their light hearted summary of the event. "The track star was taken home and released to a family member."

Police said the incident served as an important reminder of not leaping to conclusions when responding to a scene. They also noted, "a sound proof basement is a much better place to hang out at 2 a.m. than in the middle of the street."