A viral social-media trend called the “Door Kick Challenge” is gaining momentum here, and Alameda Police Department [1] (APD) is asking parents to talk to their kids about it. The so-called “challenge” involves aggressively kicking or banging on a front door to a residence to make it sound like a home invasion and then running away.
[2]In the past year, police have responded to almost two dozen incidents involving groups of young people banging on residential doors here in Alameda, according to an APD report [4] posted Wednesday, January 14 on Facebook. Most incidents have occurred between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., APD stated.
In some cases, the individuals involved have worn face coverings, which can create confusion and concern for occupants who are unsure of the group’s intentions. While this trend may appear harmless to some, it is disturbing to residents in our community and can be dangerous to those performing the challenge, APD warned.
“Similar incidents in other jurisdictions have resulted in serious consequences when participants were mistaken for potential intruders,” the report stated.
In Healdsburg, California, for example, police reported [5] that in some cases the Door Kick Challenge led not only to serious property damage but also to dangerous confrontations and criminal charges.
APD is encouraging parents and guardians to talk with their children about this so-called challenge.
“It is important to make young people aware of the potential consequences, including legal issues, property damage, and the risk of dangerous confrontations with homeowners,” APD stated. “Thank you for working together to keep our community a safe place to live, work, and play.”
Some realtors also suggest that homeowners take measures to protect their property with security features such as video doorbells or cameras, which can deter pranks and improve monitoring.