After teenager charged after pet dog died, Swansea Police Department warns of repercussions of social media challenge

A local police department is warning of the repercussions of a social media challenge that has been circulating.

According to the Swansea Police Department, in recent months, there has been an increase nationally in reports of the “Door-Kicking Challenge,” a dangerous social media video trend in which teenagers record themselves aggressively kicking a homeowner’s door late at night and running away. This is intended to mimic a home invasion to capture the resident’s reaction and post it online. Though it may seem like a prank, participants risk facing criminal charges and unintended confrontations with homeowners.

Swansea PD is urging community members to refrain from this trend.

“The potential physical and emotional damage to all parties involved is not worth social media views. We encourage parents to discuss the consequences of this challenge with their children and ask that homeowners stay alert and report any experiences of this trend. Together, we can help keep our community safe.”

Recently a 14-year-old was charged in Florida after a dog got out after a door was kicked in. The dog was then hit and killed by a car.