Crime Blotter

--> -- WATER WARS

HOOVER, Ala.

Fair-weather neighbors have turned into dry-weather enemies.

The water police in one Birmingham suburb are finding a flood of informants willing to tattle on their neighbors who flout anti-drought restrictions.

Janis Callahan learned of her neighborhood water wars the hard way.

“I planted some new lettuce and cabbage seed this weekend and I was watering my seed when the lunatic next door started photographing me,” she told the Birmingham News.

On one recent day, officers responded to more than 65 calls of alleged water-wasting, most from people complaining about their neighbors.

Last week, the mayors of Birmingham and four suburbs, prompted by the persistent drought in the Southeast, declared a water emergency, with violators subject to a maximum $200 fine and 180 days in jail.

Callahan said her seedlings are now in the pampered care of bottled water.

“I’m not going to lose my garden over this,” Callahan told the paper.

THE GREAT PUMPKIN CAPER

FAIRFIELD, Conn.

This is the story about a 340-pound pumpkin that didn’t get away.

Four men were arrested in Fairfield, Conn., and face theft charges after police observed the oversized fruit in the front seat of their car.

The pumpkin was so big, the door wouldn’t quite close, police said.

The suspects said they found the super-sized bounty on the side of the road, but police said they traced the purloined pumpkin to a gardener who specializes in big pumpkins.

He says the pumpkin thieves have visited to apologize and offer restitution.

ART HOUSE TO THE BIG HOUSE

NEW YORK

An artist preparing a graffiti-inspired exhibition was arrested across the street from the art gallery just before his show. He faces graffiti charges.

Another artist in the show was arrested two days later on similar charges.

“These individuals have been long known to the police department, and they have a history of damaging property,” police spokeswoman June Martucci said. “It has nothing to do with the show.”