'Door Kick Challenge' Resurfaces in Irvine: Police Log More Than 20 Reports in a Month, Release Doorbell Video Warning It Is Vandalism, Not a Prank
The Irvine Police Department in Orange County, California, is warning that the social-media 'door kick challenge' is resurfacing locally: according to ABC7 on November 13, police have received more than 20 reports in the past month and have released doorbell and security footage. The videos show people running up to homes in daylight and at night, kicking front doors as hard as they can and fleeing; some doors have been damaged.
In the challenge, participants walk up to a stranger's front door, kick it forcefully and have a companion record the act for social media. The Irvine Police Department had already warned teenagers through KCAL 9: 'This isn't a prank. It's vandalism, and it can end badly.'
According to ABC7, Officer Ziggy Azarcon said outside police headquarters that kicking a door that aggressively can easily make residents inside believe a real break-in is under way and take defensive action, and that parents who knowingly allow their children to take part could also be held accountable. Police urged parents to have a serious conversation with their children about the consequences.
The challenge has appeared across the United States. In September, the Phoenix Police Department in Arizona reported arresting a 14-year-old who kicked in a custom front door at about 6:30 a.m., causing an estimated $10,000 in damage, and explicitly linked the case to the viral social-media trend. Police agencies in Florida, New Jersey and elsewhere have issued similar warnings in recent months.
As of the reports, Irvine police had not announced any local arrests. The released footage is labeled 'IRVINE PD,' and residents who capture similar incidents are asked to report them to police.
Source: ABC7
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 资料图：Irvine市政中心（Azusa Tarn摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经Wikimedia Commons）
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