Residents claim their Westmount neighborhood turned chaotic Saturday night as hundreds of teens flocked in search of a house party, resulting in severe damage to a home.
London police reported they were summoned to the vicinity of Woodcrest Boulevard and Village Green Avenue around 9:30 p. m. following complaints about property damage and injuries.
Two neighbors mentioned that the teens broke into a house, tossed furniture outside, and left it in disarray.
Both hope authorities will locate those responsible and believe the parents should be held accountable for what happened on Saturday.
As of Monday morning, police said no one had been charged and encouraged anyone with information or video footage to reach out.
Neighbors Heard ‘Screaming’ From Nearby Home
Dan Courcel, who has lived in the area for two decades, stated he called 911 after hearing loud screams from a nearby unit on Saturday night.
He looked outside to see around 200 teens running among cars and houses.
“They came for a Halloween party apparently and smashed everything,” he said, indicating an eavestrough torn from the buildings and a broken patio door.
A family member of the homeowner shared that there was supposed to be a small private gathering, but hundreds of uninvited teens showed up.
Courcel noted that the teens used a brick to break one of the doors before forcing their way inside.
“I could hear all kinds of noise going on with people screaming and stuff like that inside,” said Courcel. “The unit is totally destroyed,” he added.
Police indicated that the party had been promoted on social media; however, the homeowner’s relative explained that invites went only to a private group before being leaked online to local teens. The relative stated those who arrived uninvited were not allowed entry and then stormed into the home.
Other units within the townhouse complex, along with nearby vehicles and homes, were also vandalized by the teens before they fled, according to the relative.
“That wasn’t a party,” said neighbor Kathleen Regan, expressing concern about at least 200 teens who appeared “hell-bent on destruction.”
She noted it’s typical for teens to gather at Westmount mall parking lot but emphasized nothing like this has ever occurred before.
Residents Say Parents ‘Should Be Addressed’
Regan mentioned things started escalating around 9 p. m. when cars began dropping off groups of four or five 15- and 16-year-olds at once.
“It sounded like we were at a concert. It was loud; lots of kids yelling and screaming while others were physically fighting everywhere,” she recounted.
Regan believes these teens showed up for an advertised house party but moved next door when no one answered at their intended location.
“They went next door, broke into the house by smashing these patio doors, then kicked in the front door,” explained Regan.
Neighbours say that when police arrived on scene, the large group of teens ran away. (Chris Ensing/CBC)
A little while later, police arrived which led her to describe seeing “a stampede of 200 kids” racing through her neighborhood.
Authorities confirmed someone reportedly suffered exposure to a harmful substance prompting paramedics’ arrival at the scene.
“I really blame many parents,” remarked Regan.
I think it’s crucial they talk about accountability.” She stressed how parents dropped off kids despite witnessing all chaos unfolding.
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