With Halloween drawing near, many people are shopping for - or making - the costumes they will wear to attend parties or trick-or-treat.
But one day before the holiday, another event happens - "Mischief Night," a night that keeps area police agencies on their toes.
Mischief Night, also known as Devil's Night, Hell Night, Cabbage Night, Gate Night, Mizzy Night, Miggy Night, Goosing Night and Egg Nyte, is an annual tradition in the United States as well as parts of the United Kingdom and Canada. It is a night when people, primarily teenagers and preteens, take to the streets to play pranks and do mischief.
Over the years, Mischief Night included childish pranks ranging from ringing door bells, putting toilet paper in yards and smashing pumpkins.
Some pranks, however, have escalated to causing property damage, such as spray painting and throwing rocks at buildings and vehicles, and that can result in arrests.
Minersville police Chief Michael Combs said it appears the number of people taking to the streets for Mischief Night has decreased over the years.
One of the main reasons, he said, is because residents are more wary of what can happen to their property and call to report incidents faster than before.
"People are more aware that what was once a childish prank may not be nowadays," he said.
With increases in vandalism and mischief occurring throughout the year, people are not only watching out for their property but for the property of their neighbors as well.
"Years ago, you had someone soaping the windows of their friend's car or throwing eggs but it was taken advantage of with some people now breaking into cars and throwing rocks instead of eggs," Combs said.
Those planning to take to the streets are warned that police officers, not only in Minersville but throughout Schuylkill County, are being extra vigilant during Mischief Night.
Also, anyone causing damage will face criminal charges, Combs said.
The most common arrests made by police during Mischief Night are criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. However, if a person chooses to drink alcohol before going out, a charge of public drunkenness can be included as well.
Combs said when pranksters get carried away and begin to cause damage, they have to pay the consequences.
"You understand pranks but when the problem gets out of hand, you have to crack down on it," Combs said. "Some of these youngsters think they are allowed to do this type of think on a given night but they are not and can be charged for causing damage."
The chief said not much has changed in what happens on Mischief Night over the past decades.
"You still have the same kind of pranks being done year after year and for the most part, they're done by kids just trying to have fun," he said.
Pottsville police Chief Joseph Murton agreed that most Mischief Night incidents are exactly that - mischief.
However, like Combs, Murton said that when mischief goes too far, arrests will be made.
Most youngsters taking part in the pranks do not intend to cause damage and if they do, may not even realize it, Murton said.
"Their thought is to get a laugh and maybe cause a little inconvenience," he said. "They're (pranks) not done with vengeance."
Murton said that the economy may be playing a part in residents getting more upset with pranks than they did years ago.
"Before a car got hit with an egg, you just washed it off," he said. "But now with the expensive price of cars, houses and other property, it's different."
When the pranks get out of hand and damage is done either intentionally or by outright neglect, there are consequences.
"Will we file charges against someone who gets out of hand and causes damage? Yes, we will," Murton said.