Prankster tapes together 70 cars in four streets

TAPED UP: Gordon Brown with the mass of gas works tape in Lower Parkstone Picture: Sally Adams TAPED UP: Gordon Brown with the mass of gas works tape in Lower Parkstone Picture: Sally Adams

A PRANKSTER sparked fears that a serious crime had been committed after running amok with warning tape.

Resident Gordon Brown initially thought Clarence Road in Lower Parkstone had been sealed off by police.

But when he stepped outside to take a closer look, he found his car and other parked vehicles in Clarence Road, Lower Parkstone, were also covered in tape.

He said: “It was a total mystery; I thought police had sealed off our road while an investigation was under way. But it just didn’t make any sense when I saw the same tape had been used on cars.

“I walked around the area and discovered that the same thing had happened in three other neighbouring roads with about 70 or 80 cars taped together.”

It was only when retired garage proprietor Gordon, 69, began removing tape from his blue Seat Leon that he realised a prankster was responsible.

“The penny finally dropped when I saw the words ‘gas main below’ on the tape. The gas board has been carrying out work in our area. It looked like the workmen had left the roll of tape and someone had decided to make mischief.”

Public-spirited Gordon said: “No one else was around so I removed the tape, so people wouldn’t be inconvenienced in the morning. I was also worried that it could have caused an accident or prevented emergency vehicles getting through.

“It was around 9pm and it took about half an hour because the tape was in one long strip. By the time everyone woke up on Satur-day and went out, it had gone.”

Southern Gas Networks spokesman Richard Lowes confirmed Gordon’s suspicions. He said: “It appears that someone, clearly without much forethought, has stolen a roll of our safety tape and used it in a way which could have had serious consequences.

“We are pleased that this foolish and mindless act hasn’t caused anyone any harm and would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused. We don’t have plans to follow this up with criminal proceedings and would urge anyone with any concerns around gas safety to call the emergency number on 0800 111 999.”

Comments(16)

ben111 says...
11:10am Mon 14 Jan 13

serious consequences.

phonehome says...
11:47am Mon 14 Jan 13

Harmless fun!

Pablo23 says...
1:19pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Maybe it was the same aliens that make the crop circles

bourne free says...
1:24pm Mon 14 Jan 13

WOW what scoop story !
Is someone employed to report this !

The Renegade Master says...
1:25pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Perhaps the person responsible for leaving this roll of tape somewhere where it could be stolen should be more careful next time.

scrumpyjack says...
1:38pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Yes, let's blame the worker not the thief that seems much more reasonable.

stevobath says...
3:22pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Why did they think it was a crime scene?

'Caution Gas Main Below?'...Yes police now responsible for digging up the rd?

scrumpyjack says...
3:49pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Because he saw the tape from inside his house and was too far away to be able to read it.

All the clues are there.

sagadude says...
3:58pm Mon 14 Jan 13

The Echo believes the police are looking for a suspect from Pranksome!

Arthur Maureen says...
5:11pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Oh those Lower Parkstone jokers, bet they popped into the fashionable bars and bistros of Ashley Cross Village after for a Peroni yup yup

stevobath says...
9:46am Tue 15 Jan 13

scrumpyjack wrote:
Because he saw the tape from inside his house and was too far away to be able to read it.

All the clues are there.
Where does it say that...Genius?

scrumpyjack says...
10:54am Tue 15 Jan 13

stevobath wrote:
scrumpyjack wrote:
Because he saw the tape from inside his house and was too far away to be able to read it.

All the clues are there.
Where does it say that...Genius?
Yawn.

"Resident Gordon Brown initially thought Clarence Road in Lower Parkstone had been sealed off by police.

BUT WHEN HE STEPPED OUTSIDE to take a closer look..."

mmmmmmm says...
10:58am Tue 15 Jan 13

resident Gordon Brown initially thought Clarence Road in Lower Parkstone had been sealed off by police.

But when he stepped outside to take a closer look...



"genius"

large_cheese says...
11:27am Tue 15 Jan 13

sagadude wrote:
The Echo believes the police are looking for a suspect from Pranksome!
LIKE!

suzigirl says...
4:45pm Tue 15 Jan 13

and nobody saw him/her doing it? Unbelievable - no curtains twitching in Parkstone! I looked out of my window one Saturday morning last year to see a bomb disposal unit at the bungalow across the road LOL!

.Freckles says...
7:52pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Gordon Brown doing something useful for once

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree