Three Florida teens have been arrested after taking part in the viral “door kick challenge”, which police say caused panic in a local neighborhood when a homeowner mistook the prank for a burglary in progress.
According to PEOPLE, the teens were arrested on November 23 after repeatedly kicking and banging on random doors late at night before fleeing the scene. The challenge — which has circulated widely on TikTok and other social media platforms — encourages participants to kick doors aggressively while recording the reactions for views.
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Homeowner Believed Burglary Was in Progress
Authorities from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said that officers responded to a 911 call from a resident who reported that several individuals were banging on her front door and possibly attempting to break into the home.
The homeowner told police that while she didn’t see any weapons, her husband was prepared to open the door armed in case it was a break-in. Investigators quickly determined that the incident was linked to the door kick challenge after discovering that multiple homes in the same neighborhood had been targeted that night.
Police: Teens Hit Multiple Homes Before Arrest
Officers said the group of teens visited several homes in the neighborhood, kicking and slamming on doors before running away.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office located the suspects shortly after the 911 call, and all three were taken into custody. The teens were charged with loitering and prowling, while one of them faces an additional charge of criminal mischief for property damage related to the incidents.
Police did not release the suspects’ names due to their ages.