▁of ▁violence ▁against ▁boys ▁Category : V i ol ence ▁against ▁children <0x0A> </s> ▁The ▁Thor nt on ▁Road ▁Pol ter ge ist ▁refers ▁to ▁stone - throw ing ▁inc idents ▁in ▁a ▁resident ial ▁area ▁of ▁B irmingham , ▁England ▁and ▁the ▁subsequent ▁police ▁investigation . ▁ ▁History ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 1 , ▁Ward ▁End ▁residents ▁at ▁Thor nt on ▁Road ▁told ▁police ▁they ▁could ▁not ▁locate ▁the ▁source ▁of ▁stones ▁being ▁thrown ▁that ▁were ▁causing ▁significant ▁damage ▁to ▁windows ▁and ▁roof ▁t iles . ▁Chief ▁Ins pect or ▁Len ▁Tur ley ▁investig ated , ▁saying ▁his ▁team ▁went ▁to ▁great ▁lengths ▁to ▁catch ▁the ▁individual ▁or ▁individuals ▁responsible . ▁ ▁Offic ers ▁camp ed ▁outside ▁over night ▁and ▁reported ly ▁employed ▁night ▁s ights , ▁image ▁intens ifiers ▁and ▁automatic ▁cam eras , ▁but ▁failed ▁to ▁find ▁the ▁source ▁of ▁the ▁stone ▁throwing , ▁prompt ing ▁some ▁writers ▁to ▁as cribe ▁the ▁incident ▁to ▁a ▁pol ter ge ist . ▁ ▁Police ▁later ▁spec ulated ▁that ▁the ▁stones ▁may ▁have ▁been ▁launched ▁ ▁from ▁the ▁houses ▁using ▁a ▁home - made ▁cat ap ult . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Liter ature ▁ ▁Fair ley , ▁John ▁& ▁W elf are ▁Simon ▁ 1 9 8 4 : ▁Arthur ▁C . ▁Clar ke ' s ▁World ▁of ▁Str ange ▁Pow ers ▁pages ▁ 3 1 – 3 4 . ▁. ▁Time ▁Life ▁Books ▁ 1 9 8 9 : ▁Mind ▁Over ▁M atter ▁pages ▁ 5 3 – 5 4 .