Teenagers' 'door-kick challenge' causes damage, fear for B.C. homeowners

A social media trend involving teenagers aggressively kicking strangers' doors has left homeowners in Canada feeling unsafe and dealing with property damage. The "door-kick challenge," where participants film their exploits for online clout, has escalated from late-night knocking to forceful kicks that have damaged doors and caused significant distress.

Marty Peters, a homeowner in Nanaimo, British Columbia, described the escalating harassment, which began with mysterious knocks and progressed to heavy bangs and kicks. His family experienced terrifying moments, including his granddaughter mistaking the intruders for burglars and his wife being threatened with death when confronting some of the teens. Another resident, Kylie Smallenberg, reported her door was cracked almost the entire length after being kicked by hooded individuals, leaving her feeling very unsafe.

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We had some weird knocking on the door and it was like, ‘What the heck’s going on?’ And then nobody was there. And it just kind of escalated from there.

Police across Canada are issuing warnings about the dangerous consequences of this trend. The Nanaimo RCMP noted that the suspects, who appear to be teenagers, have caused thousands of dollars in damage. While specific charges have not always been laid in past incidents, police are collaborating with local schools to identify those involved. Officers emphasize that participants often fail to realize their actions constitute a criminal offense, driven by a desire for social media validation.

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They want to get their likes and people think it’s cool, and they don’t realize it’s a criminal offence, what they’re doing.