Scavenger hunt results in 40 arrests

LAREDO, Texas, March 12 (UPI) -- Police arrested 32 adults and eight juveniles in Laredo, Texas, engaged in a high school scavenger hunt, which officials called "organized criminal activity."

The senior-sponsored scavenger hunt included a requirement to abscond with the globe at the Texas A&M International University's entrance to become an "automatic winner," the Laredo Morning Times reported.

The globe was not taken, officials said, but a total of 40 students were taken into custody after a scavenger hunt list containing things like traffic signs, garden hoses, game consoles and other items was found by police.

"I'm sure it started out as a prank; but, when they started taking other people's property and taking stop signs and traffic signs and compromising people's safety, that's when they crossed the line from fun and games, to criminal activity," said Laredo Police spokesman Juan Rivera.

"Items recovered include assorted clothing and other items including, water hoses, electric drills, Christmas trees, three fast food restaurant signs, five Xbox game consoles, one United States flag, five traffic control barrels, one El Metro bus stop seat, four fire extinguishers, one speed limit sign, five handicapped parking signs, two stop signs, and five dead end signs," Rivera said.