Got caught?
Niagara County sheriff’s deputies are poised to make the region’s first arrest in a “milk smashing” case after a teenager suspected of pulling off the prank at a Tops Markets in Newfane was recognized by store employees and bragged about his actions on Facebook.
The 18-year-old Burt resident hasn’t been arrested yet but a warrant for a charge of criminal mischief has been ordered in the incident, which took place Monday at the Tops on Lockport-Olcott Road.
This incident, which was caught on a store surveillance camera, is one of at least 10 “milk smashings” that have taken place in the last week in this area, as the online prank of the moment made its way to Western New York.
In “milk smashing” or “gallon smashing,” young people at supermarkets grab plastic gallon jugs of milk or juice and then throw them in the air or smash them to the floor while pretending to fall or slide to the floor as the liquid pools around them.
The scene, of course, is recorded by an accomplice with a smartphone and later posted to YouTube or social media sites.
Counting the Niagara County incident, “milk smashing” copycats have pulled off the decidedly unfunny prank at least 10 times at stores in Western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania – seven at Tops stores and three at Wegmans stores.
Store security reported the Newfane “milk smashing” to sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday and showed investigators footage from the in-store video system that clearly showed a young man smashing the milk containers on the floor at about 6:40 p.m. Monday.
Employees were able to identify the suspect and some of the people who accompanied him to the store. He also posted something to his Facebook page, and this information was turned over to investigators.
The News isn’t naming the teen, who is accused of causing about $8 in damages, until he is charged.
Representatives of Tops and Wegmans told The News earlier this week that store employees are warned to be on the lookout for would-be “milk smashing” pranksters and they said they would prosecute anyone they catch in the act.
“It’s a prank. However, we don’t find it to be amusing,” said Shaun Frank, asset protection manager for Wegmans in Buffalo. “We consider it a crime.”
This latest bizarre food-related prank has been imitated across the nation on YouTube. A number of supermarkets have seen the trend locally and store security, managers and cashiers have been alerted.
email: nfischer@buffnews.com
Niagara County sheriff’s deputies are poised to make the region’s first arrest in a “milk smashing” case after a teenager suspected of pulling off the prank at a Tops Markets in Newfane was recognized by store employees and bragged about his actions on Facebook.
The 18-year-old Burt resident hasn’t been arrested yet but a warrant for a charge of criminal mischief has been ordered in the incident, which took place Monday at the Tops on Lockport-Olcott Road.
This incident, which was caught on a store surveillance camera, is one of at least 10 “milk smashings” that have taken place in the last week in this area, as the online prank of the moment made its way to Western New York.
In “milk smashing” or “gallon smashing,” young people at supermarkets grab plastic gallon jugs of milk or juice and then throw them in the air or smash them to the floor while pretending to fall or slide to the floor as the liquid pools around them.
The scene, of course, is recorded by an accomplice with a smartphone and later posted to YouTube or social media sites.
Counting the Niagara County incident, “milk smashing” copycats have pulled off the decidedly unfunny prank at least 10 times at stores in Western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania – seven at Tops stores and three at Wegmans stores.
Store security reported the Newfane “milk smashing” to sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday and showed investigators footage from the in-store video system that clearly showed a young man smashing the milk containers on the floor at about 6:40 p.m. Monday.
Employees were able to identify the suspect and some of the people who accompanied him to the store. He also posted something to his Facebook page, and this information was turned over to investigators.
The News isn’t naming the teen, who is accused of causing about $8 in damages, until he is charged.
Representatives of Tops and Wegmans told The News earlier this week that store employees are warned to be on the lookout for would-be “milk smashing” pranksters and they said they would prosecute anyone they catch in the act.
“It’s a prank. However, we don’t find it to be amusing,” said Shaun Frank, asset protection manager for Wegmans in Buffalo. “We consider it a crime.”
This latest bizarre food-related prank has been imitated across the nation on YouTube. A number of supermarkets have seen the trend locally and store security, managers and cashiers have been alerted.
email: nfischer@buffnews.com