A viral social-media trend called the “Door Kick Challenge” is gaining momentum here, and Alameda Police Department (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.
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 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…