Prankster blocks door of ailing woman

By Elisa Glushefski

Published: July 30, 2008

It is nearly impossible for Sylvia Urani to leave her Manassas Park-area town house on these hot summer days.

The 67-year-old, who suffers from emphysema and is on oxygen, can barely keep her front door open for more than a minute on days with poor air quality.

But last week a frustrating prank made certain Urani wouldn't be able get out of her front door.

Someone had moved a concrete flowerpot from her front step to block her storm door.

"Who in the world would think of doing something that stupid," Urani said. "I don't know what started this."

The first prank happened in the wee hours of the morning July 20, Urani said. To top it off, a beer bottle had been broken by her back door. She was shocked and troubled that someone would try to block her in like that.

That time, Urani said she didn't call police because she knew her sister would be coming over and could move the pot.

But the flowerpot prank was pulled four other times that week.

Those times, Urani said she did call police and each time an officer went to her town house to move the pot, which weighs between 15 and 20 pounds.

One of the officers took a report and interviewed two of her neighbors, but neither had seen anything, a Prince William police spokeswoman said.

In the 20 years she's lived at her Stuart Court home, she's never had any problems, Urani said.

The last time the flowerpot was put in front of her door was on July 24, she said.

Since then, Urani has started leaving her front porch light on and hasn't had any more problems.

Anyone who notices suspicious activity can report it to Prince William County police by calling the non-emergency number at 703-792-6500.

Staff writer Elisa Glushefski can be reached at 703-878-8062.