And for some they’re now thinking, ‘Oh, maybe I could make a job out of this. “It keeps guys off the streets, it keeps guys out of gangs, and it’s a brotherhood here.

“It’s not easy wiring all these sirens together and there’s also real camaraderie in learning it and helping each other out,” he continued. “Everyone has their own hobby and other hobbies get their own space so all we want is our own space, so we can go somewhere and not get fined, not get in trouble and then go home,” he said. Lesoa said attempts to obtain legal permits for siren battles have been fruitless. He added that siren battling is a highly technical hobby and often requires skills in wiring, soldering and other electrical work.

He said most people will buy their gear overseas or from local suppliers - with some spending upward of thousands in the process. Car drivers armed with a playlist of Celine Dion songs have been plaguing residents of a small New Zealand city for months on end with loud, late-night siren battles. Lesoa said the biggest misconception about siren battling is that equipment is often stolen.