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SLO County warns teens about criminality of door kick challenge

August 20, 2025

Damaged garage door

By KAREN VELIE

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office warned teenagers yesterday not to join the so-called “door kick challenge” after multiple homeowners in Templeton reported damage to garage or front doors.

The social media challenge involves kicking a stranger’s door, recording the act, and then fleeing. Multiple law enforcement agencies have sought criminal charges against teens and children for damaging property, including felony charges.

“We’ve recently seen a rise in reports of the so-called “door kick challenge,” a dangerous social media trend where kids and teens kick doors (often garage or front doors) and run away,” the SLO County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook. “Over the weekend alone, multiple homes in Templeton reported damage like the garage door pictured here.

“We want to be clear: this isn’t just a prank, it’s property damage and can result in criminal charges. It also puts residents at risk, especially if someone is home and startled by the noise or thinks someone is trying to break in.”

Investigators are asking anyone who experience this at their home or who has information about those involved, to contact law enforcement.

 


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You know there used to be youth job programs they would provide kids the opportunity to work at schools parks etc.

You do things like this when you don’t care about what people may think. Jobs, and they need to obtain them, help you to understand your actions have consequences.


So, you kicked in a door last year….is not something you want coming out in an interview.

I would bet all were unemployed or never employed.


2

This is how the Templeton Feed & Grain fire teens got their start in the mischief scene….


10

“It also puts residents at risk.” I would offer that it can put the teenagers at risk if someone fears a break in and chooses to defend themselves and their property. As has been said, “we’re too soon old and too late smart.”


20

What’s not mentioned is that the ideas are initially generated by TikTok, the Chinese-owned app responsible for spreading these ideas.


34

Are you retarded?


-16

The dots are there, you just have to connect them.


6

Weird. What’s the point? Get the kids off social media.


50

So will the responsible party, or their parents, be held financially responsible to repair all damage?


45

I’d say poor parenting is the root cause of this particular degenerate behavior. Property damage is not cool :/


50

What must a parent do? Leave the state? Send their children off to boarding school? I can’t think of any solutions other than for two loving parents to take full control over their children’s’ use of the internet with the parental controls available to them, requiring a true honest and trusting relationship. The use of TikTok is the one single app that has got to be discouraged. It’s bad enough that young people turn to Instagram and Snapchat for information. Show your children the Encyclopedia Brittanica for heaven’s sake!


7

Templeton seems to have problems with juvenilles. At least no fireworks involved this time.


5

Disagree. Teenager boys have always done stupid things. This is just another. Remember how they used to destroy mailboxes?


-6