By ALEXANDER SIMONE

Staff writer

A weekend incident where children were running on the roofs of buildings in the 100 block of N. Walnut St. in Peabody has dismayed business owners and residents.

Someone could get hurt, said Dimitri Dixon, who lives in the 100 block of N. Walnut St.

“I definitely don’t want to see anyone hurt or injured,” he said. “They get up there and playing around, then somebody accidentally gets pushed or something. That’s not a good thing at all.”

Police chief Bruce Burke had not heard mention of the incident, but said preventing people from getting on the roofs ultimately falls to business owners.

“Property owners need to not make it accessible,” he said.

Following the incident, caution tape was wrapped across the front of a fire escape to prevent entry.

Business owner Morgan Marler took to social media and warned parents and fellow business owners to take preventative measures.

If someone is making repairs to the building, needing easy access is understandable, but the owner could be liable if there is an accident, Dixon said.

“It seems harmless, but I’ve never been up there so I don’t know if there is any kind of railing to protect them,” he said.