TONIGHT WE’RE TRACKING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SOCIAL MEDIA TREND CALLED DOOR KNOCKING. IT’S NOW SPREADING THROUGH PENNSYLVANIA COMMUNITIES JUST LIKE WE SAW WITH THE DOOR KICKING TREND. THIS VIDEO YOU’RE TAKING A LOOK AT RIGHT HERE IS FROM A HOME IN LIBERTY BOROUGH IN WESTERN PA, SHOWING TEENS POUNDING ON A WOMAN’S DOOR. SHE SAYS SHE SAW THEM RUN OFF AND BOROUGH POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING. THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SHERIFF TELLS US AT THE SAME THING ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO HIM. I THOUGHT SOMEONE WAS ENTERING THE HOUSE AND MY WIFE WAS ON THE PHONE WITH 911 AND I GRABBED A FIREARM, WENT DOWNSTAIRS AND I WAS CLEARLY UNDER THE IMPRESSION SOMEBODY WAS IN IN OUR HOME. AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THAT’S THAT’S WHEN THINGS LIKE THAT CAN TURN, TURN TRAGIC. WE’VE TRACKED THIS IN SIMILAR TRENDS IN SEVERAL SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY SWATARA TOWNSHIP POLICE SA
“Door knocking” | Social media trend raises safety concerns in Pennsylvania
Updated: 4:28 PM EDT Apr 15, 2026
A social media trend known as door knocking is spreading through Pennsylvania communities, leading to police investigations and warnings about its risks. A video from Liberty Borough in western Pennsylvania shows teens pounding on a woman’s door. She said she saw them run off, and borough police are investigating the incident. Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus described his own experience with the trend. “I thought somebody was entering the house, and my wife was on the phone at 911, and I grabbed a firearm, went downstairs, and I was clearly under the impression somebody was in our home. And, you know, I mean, that’s when things like that can turn tragic,” Kraus said. Authorities have tracked this and similar trends in several Susquehanna counties.The Swatara Township Police Department said the act is considered a crime, and anyone caught engaging in “door knocking” could face felony burglary charges.
A social media trend known as door knocking is spreading through Pennsylvania communities, leading to police investigations and warnings about its risks.
A video from Liberty Borough in western Pennsylvania shows teens pounding on a woman’s door. She said she saw them run off, and borough police are investigating the incident.
Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus described his own experience with the trend.
“I thought somebody was entering the house, and my wife was on the phone at 911, and I grabbed a firearm, went downstairs, and I was clearly under the impression somebody was in our home. And, you know, I mean, that’s when things like that can turn tragic,” Kraus said.
Authorities have tracked this and similar trends in several Susquehanna counties.
The Swatara Township Police Department said the act is considered a crime, and anyone caught engaging in “door knocking” could face felony burglary charges.