Invasion Of 'Masked Marauders' Neighbors Pleading For Help - Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29

The home video is dark and a bit shaky, but the masked critters are easy enough to spot.

Five raccoons are seen scurrying along the rotted roof fronts of porches along the 4000 block of N. Franklin St. in Philadelphia's Hunting Park section.

The video was shot Thursday night, and prompted homeowner Joy Taylor to call Fox29 for help.

"Yesterday was ridiculous," she says.  "It was really ridiculous."

Raccoons like convenient shelter, and the swiss-cheese look of  the roof facing was made to order.

The critters peered out from their hiding places, with a couple of them crawling along wrought iron rails in search of food!

"I've seen a raccoon walking on the ground," says Taylor.  "I've seen a raccoon in the park. But five of them at one time in your house? No. No."

In fact, Joy says frightened neighbors called police to the scene, but she says cops told her they were powerless to act, unless the raccoons bit someone.

"That's the only way we can get something done?" Taylor asked us incredulously.

I called Philly's Animal Control office, to see what could be done.

Trapping the animals is against the law, unless they are physically threatening someone, or are inside a home.

The city promises to send inspectors out to the neighborhood next week, but that may not be the answer folks here are looking for.

The Department of Licenses and Inspections can cite homeowners whose lack of maintenance- like a rotting rooftop- allows the raccoons to set up nests and menace the neighborhood.

Joy Taylor just wants the raccoons gone. "This is crazy," she says. 

"We have little kids on the block!"