Santa Clarita residents warned of viral TikTok door-kicking development

Simply once you thought the web had lastly run out of horrible concepts, TikTok seems to have delivered one other one.

The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station is warning residents concerning the so-called “Door Kick Problem,” a social media development that encourages teenagers to run as much as properties, kick or try to kick within the entrance door, then dash away whereas recording the entire thing for on-line clout.

Authorities say the prank has formally made its method to the Santa Clarita Valley, prompting deputies to alert the group and urge mother and father to have a severe dialog with their youngsters earlier than a couple of seconds of viral fame turns into felony costs.

In a Fb publish, the Sheriff’s Station mentioned it has lately obtained studies of the problem taking place regionally. Officers are asking residents to ensure their doorways are locked and that doorbell cameras are functioning correctly. 

Deputies confused that what some teenagers could view as a innocent social media stunt is something however. Based on the Sheriff’s Station, kicking somebody’s entrance door can lead to felony vandalism costs and creates a particularly harmful state of affairs.

“The particular person behind the door has no method of understanding whether or not somebody is attempting to interrupt into their dwelling,” the division wrote.

“And the particular person kicking the door by no means is aware of what could also be ready on the opposite facet.”

The company cautioned {that a} second of on-line consideration merely isn’t price risking a prison document, severe damage or one thing even worse.

The warning rapidly sparked dialogue on-line, with a number of group members saying they’ve both skilled the development firsthand or concern the place it could lead on.

“This occurred to me yesterday! I didn’t understand they had been kicking my door nevertheless it was a increase in order that is smart,” one Fb person commented on the publish.

One other identified that pranks involving strangers’ properties aren’t what they was.

“Individuals are far more cautious, suspicious and protecting nowadays. Even ding dong ditch isn’t the innocent prank it was. Door kick ditch might find yourself horribly for these troublemakers,” the commenter wrote.

Whereas social media challenges typically come and go, legislation enforcement says this one carries actual penalties. What seems to be like a humorous video on-line can simply be mistaken for an tried dwelling invasion by the folks inside the home.

And in a time when many householders are on excessive alert, deputies say that’s a big gamble no viral development is price taking.

Anybody who turns into a sufferer of the prank is inspired to report it by calling the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station at 661-260-4000.

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