A New Jersey homeowner suffered $700 worth of damage and a near-heart attack after masked pranksters stomped on his front door as part of a twisted TikTok challenge. Police warned that the consequences could be deadly.
The so-called “door kick” challenge has inspired groups of teens across the country to kick the front door of a stranger's home as hard as they can, then try to escape while filming the prank. Teens often cover their faces and go on strike in the middle of the night.
But social media trends are costly, criminal and potentially deadly, police agencies across the United States warn.
In the Garden State, East Orange police issued a warning to residents Saturday about “door kicking” incidents in the area.
“The 'door kicking challenge' is more than just a harmless trend,” the police department said. “TikTok videos suggest this challenge is happening in cities across the country, and it is a dangerous activity that can lead to significant property damage and personal injury.”
The prank “is a gross misdemeanor, punishable by jail time and/or fines,” the warning added.
One of the targeted homeowners said the loud bang was frightening.
“I heard a very loud bang and my dog started running downstairs,” East Orange resident Amanda Gross said. told ABC7.
A social media prank resulted in hundreds of dollars in property damage.
“It was so hard that they made my mom spend an extra $700…what was so hard about it? To scare us to death? Because that's so pathetic,” she said.
But authorities say the potential consequences could be even worse for the pranksters than for the victims.
“You know it can be frightening for residents and homeowners, but it can also be deadly or fatal for those who are participating,” law enforcement officials said. told a local news station.
Many homeowners are unaware of the TikTok challenge that first went viral in 2021 and mistake pranksters for actual burglars.
When the dangerous stunt first surfaced, Jennifer Pritchard of the Petaluma, California, Police Department said people unfamiliar with social media trends interpreted the prank as a “real-life life-or-death situation.” He said there is a possibility.
“I don't know how they would protect something that could cause real, real harm,” she said at the time. “When people think their homes and families are threatened, they will respond equally to protect their property and families.”
Orange County police are asking any victims or witnesses of the “kick in the door” prank to contact officers.
