An alert resident and a quick response by Barrington Police may have thwarted a dangerous or destructive situation last week, as trespassers and full cans of gasoline were spotted at a vacant property in town.

At about 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, a person called Barrington Police to report male juveniles trespassing on the former Zion Bible College property. 

The former college campus has been a repeated target by vandals over the years. The buildings on campus have had their windows smashed, doors ripped open and walls covered in graffiti. A while back, Barrington officials ordered the property owner, ShineHarmony LLC., to board up some of the buildings and demolish others that had fallen into very poor condition. 

It has been reported that police have been called to more than 200 incidents on the property, ranging from trespassers to brush fires.

On July 3, the call was for four juveniles who scaled a chain link fence surrounding the campus and were spotted running toward the rear of the property.

Police searched the area for the four suspects but could not find them. The police dispatch log also reported that someone found full gas cans left along Middle Highway near the property. Police seized the gas containers.