WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – A growing social media trend involving teens running up to homes, banging or kicking on doors and then fleeing is leaving some Central Florida residents shaken and calling for accountability.
In Winter Garden, homeowner Yuliya Marianai said she and her family were startled after a teen wearing a helmet ran up to her home, loudly banged on the front door and quickly rode away on an e-bike. The incident was captured on home surveillance video.
“It sounded like a garage door fell off the hinges,” Marianai said. “My husband was like, ‘What was that?’”
The prank resembles the long-running “ding dong ditch” challenge, but residents and law enforcement officials say the behavior can create fear among homeowners.
Marianai said she was home with her daughter when it happened and was too afraid to open the door.
“It was very unsettling, very disruptive and for no reason at all,” she said. “My next thought is, where are the parents?”
Similar incidents have been reported across Central Florida.
This week, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office announced that two 13-year-olds are facing charges after allegedly kicking a resident’s door during a similar prank. One parent of the teen commented on social media that despite raising her child to know right from wrong, children can still “choose a dangerous path.”
“I have lived inside this community for 11 years and what I am gathering is these kids are becoming numb to law enforcement,” Marianai said. “They just don’t care.”
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office warned that depending on the extent of damage caused, teens involved in these incidents could face felony criminal mischief charges. Officials also emphasized that the pranks can frighten residents who may not know whether someone outside their home poses a real threat.
As for the Winter Garden police, they say, “If there’s a problem with ‘pranks’ in any given area then it needs to be brought to our attention so we can address the issue with extra presence. The prevalence of the issue may even prompt an investigation to identify those responsible to get their parents involved or even charge them criminally if that’s appropriate.”
Marianai believes stronger consequences may be necessary if conversations between parents and teens are not enough to stop the behavior.
“I like the idea to fine a parent if the child is under 18 years old and if the child is still living with you,” she said. “Only then would there be some type of consequences.”
With summer approaching and students out of school soon, residents said they hope local leaders and parents can work together to deter teens from continuing with the dangerous pranks.