Mischief Night 'Historically Quiet' for Toms River

If Mischief Night is the day before Halloween, in Toms River it gets a bump backward to Oct. 29.

While other towns are on alert Oct. 30 for pumpkin-smashing, toilet-paper throwing, egg-pelting and Silly String spraying folk, Toms River is out trick or treating. The story goes, Oct. 29 is the night for mischief.

But Toms River Police Chief Michael Mastronardy said that so-called Mischief Night isn’t much of a problem for the town.

“It’s relatively quiet,” he said. “In the past, it’s been that way — historically we have been quiet.”

The weather didn’t cooperate with any would-be mischievous folks last night, as a Nor’easter swept the area and temperatures quickly dropped as a light snow fell.

It’s been the light vandalism of toilet paper and eggs instead of things such as broken windows or other kinds of property damage and theft, for anyone using Oct. 29 as mischief night. Toms River’s trick or treating night is Oct. 30 most years, which deters others from “celebrating” mischief night that day since so many other people are out trick or treating, he said.

Thus, the police are on alert Oct. 29.