On Thursday morning, May 1, 2014, police responded to a burglar alarm at Teaneck, N.J. Sixty-two students were arrested for breaking into their high school overnight for a senior class prank. For the senior class prank, the high school seniors urinated in the hallways, greased doorknobs with petroleum jelly, and taped hot dogs to lockers. Police officers that responded to the burglar alarm also found desks flipped over, broken chairs, graffiti on the walls, silly string on the floors and balloons throughout the building.

Police officers said that before they even went inside they could see many students through the building’s windows.  Police dogs were used in their room-by-room round up of students to find the ones who were in hiding. “It is possible that a few got away, but the majority were caught,” acting Police Chief Robert Carney said.

According to the high school seniors it was just a senior prank, an annual tradition at the northern New Jersey school of 1,300. While the students were being arrested some were visibly scared and some of them were laughing.

Sgt. John Garland said, “If this was a senior class prank, I just don’t believe that a lot of them realize the seriousness of it, as far as breaking into the building” He also said, “That’s a burglary and I don’t think they understand that. It’s a very serious offense.” Twenty-four of the seniors who were 18 years or older were charged with burglary and criminal mischief. Thirty juveniles were released to their parents.

Barbara Pinsak, the school superintendent, said at a news conference that the district is considering disciplining the students. She also said the school was cleaned up in time for class on Thursday.