San Carlos 'Orbeez Challenge' Incidents Prompt Advisory

SAN CARLOS, CA — The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office has issued an advisory after multiple reports of a dangerous social media-inspired prank surfaced in San Carlos.

“Orbeez challenge” incidents, which involve the firing of thawed or frozen gel balls from the toy blasters, have been reported throughout the Peninsula city.

Firing a “water bullet” from a toy such as an Orbeez blaster at people, vehicles or pets is a penal code violation for negligent discharge of a firearm, and those that do so maliciously can be charged with a misdemeanor if the shooting results in an injury, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Orbeez are small gel pellets that are loaded into a toy gun and can be discharged rapidly.

These incidents have occurred throughout the city, but mainly in the downtown and surrounding areas.

“The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office strongly encourages parents to discuss these devices with their children,” the agency said in a statement.

“A toy gun stops being a toy when it victimizes others.”

Authorities believe five juvenile suspects, driving an unknown make/model vehicle have been involved in multiple assaults.

The suspects drive past the victims and discharge the toy gun at random individuals walking down the street, mostly in the evening hours, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The prank has resulted in multiple arrests in 2022, NPR reports.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office at 650-363-4911 or the Anonymous Tip Line at 1-800-547-2700.