A brand new TikTok pattern has folks reporting that their entrance doorways have been kicked open by strangers.

The Vancouver, Washington Police Division issued an alert on Thursday which stated that they're investigating "not less than seven very regarding incidents linked to a well-liked problem being perpetuated on the media-sharing app 'TikTok.'"

These latest incidents reported by the Vancouver Police Division come as TikTok has confronted backlash from many for a number of different comparable tendencies, the place customers of the app encourage others to attempt odd challenges that might be harmful.

Police stated that the so-called "Door Kick Problem" has TikTok customers recording themselves kicking within the doorways of unsuspecting strangers. In keeping with police, the seven incidents that they responded to on Wednesday occurred principally within the Hearthwood Neighborhood in East Vancouver.

"Typically, teenaged males kicked within the door of unsuspecting owners, then fled the scene," the Metropolis of Vancouver Police Division stated. "The Vancouver Police Division is alerting the group to this latest problem and encourages mother and father to warn their youngsters of the plain risks related to one of these crime."

Whereas talking with KATU 2 Information in Portland, Oregon, Vancouver Police Division spokeswoman Kim Kapp stated that whereas the incidents are usually not thought of a house invasion, they pose different risks, particularly to the house owner.

"The shock to a house owner who's simply sitting there minding their very own enterprise on the dinner desk when their door will get kicked in, however actually the consequence, we do not know whose door these children are kicking in, and what the response of that house owner could be," Kapp instructed the native information station. "We do not need anybody getting damage primarily based on a prank that is gone improper."

Kapp additionally instructed KATU 2 Information that they're asking mother and father within the space to pay attention to the pattern and stated, "Sadly, lots of social media will be nice, and it may also be a spot for lots of bother."

Kapp stated to Newsweek that detectives have been in touch with TikTok. "Our most important concern along with the prison exercise and the character of one of these problem is that when any individual kicks any individual's door in, the response of that resident is clearly unknown," Kapp stated.

Kapp additionally instructed Newsweek that since Wednesday the Vancouver Police Division has not acquired any new stories of one of these incident.

A considerably comparable state of affairs occurred in Louisiana in November, when police arrested three people after they have been seen on digital camera kicking a stranger's door in and fleeing the scene.

"A number of safety cameras recorded a teenage feminine within the passenger's facet operating as much as doorways to kick them in and go away the world within the car. The suspect admitted to kicking the doorways. Extra recordsdata and fees are suspected as extra folks get dwelling from work," the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Workplace stated in a press release, in line with WAFB Channel 9 information.

In a press release despatched to Newsweek, a spokesperson for TikTok stated, "Whereas we now have not seen this trending on our platform, we anticipate our group to create responsibly and can take away content material that encourages vandalism and different prison actions."

TikTok
A brand new TikTok pattern has people kicking within the doorways of strangers' houses. Above, this picture illustration, the social media utility brand, TikTok is displayed on the display screen of an iPhone on an American flag background on August 3, 2020 in Arlington, Virginia. Olivier Douliery/Getty

Up to date 1/28/22, 1:16 p.m. ET : This story has been up to date to incorporate a press release from the Metropolis of Vancouver Police Division.