Caught cold in the wintery night

It was a standoff worth remembering. A group of vandals armed with nothing but colourful powder, and three policemen, armed and with dogs in tow.

On Monday, the colour vandals eventually met the strong arm of the law.

Last week, the vandals took on a Neerajh’s Auto Clinic. What the vandals did not realise, was that the businesses caught the group’s entire escapade on camera.

The footage was submitted to the authorities, and on Monday, Sergeant Daniel Trenerry, Warrant Officer Sascha Naidoo and Warrant Officer Mandla Dlamini tailed the suspects to their next vandalism spot.

The suspects were a group of seven people; seven people whose methods of creating a festival vibe were abruptly stopped with a dog’s bark.

Leading the pack of vandals, was local businessman Quintin Ferreira, who upon realising the gig was up, turned his colourful weapons onto the police.

His stand did not last long, as he soon found himself face first against the very wall he and his crew had been vandalising moments earlier. The cuffs in place, he admitted to his actions.

“Yes, many people guessed it, while members of our own committee did not realise the pranks had all been a part of the Winter Festival warm-ups,” said Mr Ferreira.

He said the idea for the pranks had come to the group, after they noticed how much the colour powders could brighten up an area or person.

“We want this year’s festival to add colour to the lives of all those who attend. We are a rainbow nation, and the colours we fill the world with can be felt in every person.”

Luckily, all the businesses hit by the colour vandals, including the Newcastle Advertiser and municipality, had give their consent for the acts to take place, and the arrests of the committee was staged.

While this year’s Winter Festival prank was not nearly as loud as the prank lion, or as spooky as the ghostbusting bomb scare of the past, it did get many people talking, and definitely added colour to the town.

“The Winter Festival is an event that fills us with pride. The mayor may have labelled us colour terrorists, but we know we added some colour to your life. Come visit us at the Winter Festival so we can mess you with the colours of the rainbow.”

Were you caught out by the antics of the Winter Festival crew this year? Let us know online!