PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — A dangerous viral trend has made its way to the Treasure Coast. Police say what some teens see as a prank could lead to serious charges or even put them in danger.
A homeowner in Port St. Lucie recently shared a video from the Becker Road area showing someone walking up to their front door around 1 a.m., banging and kicking repeatedly before driving off. The homeowner wrote that the person appeared to be roaming the neighborhood overnight, possibly in a Ford vehicle.
People online quickly connected the video to the “door-kicking challenge,” a viral social media trend where individuals, often teens, record themselves kicking or pounding on doors and running away for attention or likes.
Similar videos have surfaced across Florida, including one out of Volusia County showing teens running up to homes and kicking doors.
Port St. Lucie Police Master Sgt. Dominick Mesiti says these actions are not harmless pranks but crimes that can lead to trespassing, vandalism, or even burglary charges.
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“It is criminal to attempt to kick in somebody’s private property, their door, damage it and make entry into the home, even if in your mind as the offender you think it’s only a prank,” Mesiti said.
He also warned that the behavior could be dangerous for those taking part. “We do have the Castle Doctrine in the state of Florida, as well as the Stand Your Ground laws,” Mesiti said. “A homeowner would be legally authorized to use reasonable force to stop a threat that they perceived as trying to enter their home.”
Neighbor Raymond Rossknecht, who lives nearby, said the trend is troubling.
“You’re putting yourself at risk for no reason, you’re scaring people for no reason,” Rossknecht said. “A lot of people can be trigger-happy, so it’s a huge safety issue.”
Police are urging parents to talk with their kids about viral trends before a prank for likes turns into a 911 call.
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