Police in Cape Cod warn against viral door-kicking social media trend

Police in a Cape Cod town are warning residents about a viral door-kicking prank with potentially dangerous consequences.

The Bourne Police Department said Monday they have joined a growing list of law enforcement offices nationwide that have dealt with incidents related to the trend, which involves people kicking residents’ doors and running away. Since November, they have responded to “at least five different calls” involving the prank, the department said in a Facebook post.

Though the trend has been causing trouble since 2024, it’s continued to spark intervention from officials across the country who have prompted the often-teenaged perpetrators to make better choices. In their post, Bourne police made their message clear: don’t do it.

“Aside from the criminal charges that can result from this, unnecessarily scaring an individual in their home for ‘social media fame’ can have serious, unintended consequences when those present believe their home is being broken into,” police said.

The trend has resulted in deadly consequences in at least one instance. Gonzalo Leon Jr., 42, of Houston, was charged with murder in September after he fatally shot an 11-year-old boy who played the prank, according to The Associated Press.

Bourne police noted that the door was forced open in at least one incident they responded to, and suspects were observed to be recording the prank on multiple occasions, according to the post. In an effort to prevent a similar tragedy like the Houston incident from occurring, Bourne officials encouraged young residents to instead make a positive contribution to the community.

“Our social media challenge to those thinking about taking part in these types of trends, try doing something kind or positive for those in your community instead of trying to scare someone,” police said on Facebook. “You will earn something even better than fleeting social media attention…. You will have a long-lasting sense of self-pride and that feeling of making positive difference in the community.”