KTLA 5 recently aired surveillance footage from a home in Aliso Viejo, in south Orange County, showing a hooded teenager kicking a resident's door twice before running away.
The homeowner said the incident occurred last weekend and is "not an isolated case".
"At least 5 of my neighbors also had their doors kicked that night, and one door was even kicked in," the resident said. "This behavior is extremely dangerous, as it could easily be mistaken for a robbery or break-in."
According to KTLA 5, this appears to be a more violent version of the "ding dong ditch" prank.
After the incident was reported, the homeowner whose door was damaged contacted KTLA 5 and provided photos. The photos revealed the door had been kicked open while she was away, leaving her pet unattended. She stressed that the community needs to take these pranks seriously due to the potential risks.
"This could lead to jail time and ruin these kids' college opportunities. They often hang out at the community mall and are easily identifiable," she said. "This is a very dangerous situation for the residents and for the kids themselves."
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A damaged door in Aliso Viejo. Photo: KTLA 5 |
Both residents have reported the incidents to local police.
In late August, an 11-year-old boy in Houston, Texas, was fatally shot while playing "ding dong ditch." Houston police arrested a 42-year-old veteran on murder charges after he shot the boy as he ran away.
In May, a Virginia man fatally shot an 18-year-old who was participating in the prank at 3 a.m. for a TikTok video. In 2023, a Southern California man was convicted of murder after he rammed his car into a vehicle carrying 6 teenagers involved in "ding dong ditch," killing three of them.
Duc Trung (From KTLA 5)
