Pools in motels and homes in New Jersey have been turned neon by drone operator Patrick Spina IV, who is accused of dropping paint packs from planes to terrorize the neighborhood

Residents and business owners in New Jersey were terrorized by a local prankster who police say used a drone to turn their pool’s water neon green.

Authorities say they arrested Patrick Spina IV, 45, of Absecon, New Jersey, Monday in connection with the case.

Residents and businesses in the Absecon and Galloway areas of New Jersey had been reporting the suspicious activity since June 22, when their pools mysteriously began changing color.

The Quality Inn in Galloway Township fell victim to the hoax after its pool became discolored a dozen times over the summer.

“I walked into my office and had a nervous breakdown,” says owner Sandra Woolstion ABC7 about the continued prank.

Residents and businesses in the Absecon and Galloway areas of New Jersey had been reporting the suspicious activity since June 22, when their pools mysteriously began changing color

Sandra Woolstion is the owner and managing director of the Quality Inn and said she broke down over the repeated prank

The prank first happened at the motel in late June. Woolstion said she knew it was algae that turned the pool to neon. Staff found a packet of dye at the bottom of the pool but didn’t know what it was.

She had the pool drained and cleaned — which cost her thousands of dollars each time.

She estimated she lost $20,000 this summer from cleaning and canceling stays due to the lack of a pool.

But again, she would check to see the pool stained from a new pack. This resulted in guests, including children, getting upset that they couldn’t use the pool.

“The girls are standing here and they’re like, ‘Oh my God, we want to go swimming.’ “Some of them cried,” Woolstion said.

The Quality Inn was hit again Friday, but this time police worked with the FAA to track the drone to a Comfort Solutions Heating and Cooling facility on the other side of White Horse Pike. There the authorities arrested the owner Spina.

Authorities described the motive as a hoax.

The motel wasn’t the only place the alleged prankster was attacked. Police in communities around Atlantic City received calls from pool owners, all with similar complaints.

“We had a resident enjoying time in his pool and he saw a drone overhead and the drone actually threw something in his pool and it immediately turned green,” Absecon Police Chief James Laughlin told the news channel.

Authorities arrested Patrick Spina IV, 45, in connection with the ongoing Atlantic City area prank

Woolstion had the pool drained and cleaned — which cost her thousands of dollars each time

The motel wasn’t the only place the alleged prankster was attacked. Police in communities around Atlantic City received calls from pool owners, all with similar complaints

The sea dye that Spina used to change the color of pool water is typically used by search and rescue teams and can be harmful to pools.

The same dye is used to attract the attention of sea rescue services as it colors the water with its bright neon fluorescent color.

Spina was arrested on multiple counts of criminal assault and harassment, putting an end to his summer stint terrorizing residents and businesses in his area.

He faces fines of up to $30,000, including penalties for conducting unsafe operations with the drone he is using.