Surveillance footage obtained by KTLA 5 shows a masked teen in Aliso Viejo kicking a homeowner’s door twice before fleeing. The resident said the incident occurred last weekend and noted, “This wasn’t an isolated case.” At least five other neighbors reported similar break-ins that night, with one door kicked off its frame.
“This is extremely dangerous—it could easily be mistaken for a robbery or home invasion,” the homeowner said. Local media described the trend as a more aggressive version of the so-called “ding dong ditch” prank.
Another resident, whose door was damaged while she was away, stressed the risks: “This can lead to jail time and ruin these kids’ chances at college. They hang around the shopping center, and people know who they are. It’s dangerous for both the community and the kids themselves.” Both victims have filed police reports.
The concerns come after a series of fatal incidents nationwide. In August, an 11-year-old boy in Houston was shot dead after playing a doorbell prank. Earlier this year, an 18-year-old in Virginia was killed while filming the stunt for TikTok, and in 2023, a Southern California man was convicted of murder for ramming into a car of six teens after a similar prank, killing three.