Barrington Police Chief John LaCross is asking parents to check their children's toy guns and make sure the orange safety tips are still intact, after an incident last week.

On Tuesday, April 17, a police officer was on routine patrol near the former Zion Bible College property when he spotted some teenagers acting "suspiciously." The officer approached the teens and saw what appeared to be a rifle stock sticking out of a duffle bag one of the boys was carrying. 

The officer asked the teenagers to empty the bag — it contained eight fake guns, which had been altered to look like real firearms. The teenagers told the officer they planned to use the guns or "props" while filming a movie on the vacant college campus. 

"The orange tips were either removed or painted..." said Chief LaCross. "Luckily this was discovered by Patrolman Oser before an officer came across these kids or a neighbor called it in. Any officer could have easily mistaken these weapons as real."

Barrington police issued a stern warning to the teenagers at Zion — the three 14-year-olds were all Riverside residents. 

Chief LaCross is also asking that parents check their children's toys, including Airsoft and pellet guns, and make sure the orange tips are intact.

"This situation could have been very dangerous," added the chief.