A social media trend and more dangerous version of the well-known “ding-dong ditching” has made its way to Dutchess County.
The “door kick challenge” is the latest phenomenon causing issues, and it has prompted public safety warnings over the potential consequences.
The trend involves violently kicking or pounding on the door of a stranger’s home, typically while masked and during the night, then fleeing.
It’s local now, with reports of this happening in the towns of Beekman, LaGrange and Poughkeepsie. Some of the door-kicking incidents have involved property damage, according to an email statement from Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi.
The Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department are currently investigating multiple incidents.
Parisi warned county residents the trend “is not a joke, prank or harmless teenage behavior.”
To those inside the home, he said, it can be terrifying, and if homeowners believe a home invasion is taking place, they may take defensive action and severe consequences could result.
Anyone with information, video footage or knowledge of those involved with the local incidents should contact the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office at 845-486-3800.
The ‘door kick challenge,’ hitting towns nationwide
“These incidents are frightening to the people whose homes are targeted, can cause property damage, unnecessarily consume law-enforcement resources and can create an extremely dangerous situation,” Parisi said in an email statement.
In November 2025, three teens were arrested in St. Johns County, Florida, after participating in the trend, according to The Florida Times-Union.
In St. Johns, Michigan, the Lansing State Journal reported Dec. 22 and Dec. 23, multiple reports had come in of doors being kicked or damaged over those nights, with someone home the majority of the time.
The Athens Banner-Herald reported that University of Georgia freshman football player London Seymour and three other UGA visitors had warrants issued for their arrests on Jan. 28 of this year after partaking in the trend to dorm rooms on Dec. 5 and 6, 2025. Seymour was ultimately arrested and released from Georgia’s Clarke County Jail on Jan. 29, following an investigation.
Seymour and the three other visitors, all 18 and 19 years old, were charged with one felony count for the first incident and another 10 each for the second.
What to do if you experience this
The District Attorney’s Office said anyone who experiences a disturbance like this should immediately contact 911.
You should remain inside, in a secure location, and not pursue or confront the individuals — leave it to law enforcement to investigate these incidents.
If you have any doorbell, security camera or other video footage, for instance from your cellphone, make sure to preserve it. Law enforcement would want the original footage before editing or posting it publicly.
If possible, the office also suggests recording descriptions of the individuals, their vehicles, license plates and the direction of travel.
The consequences
Potential charges for a situation like this may look different, as every case must be evaluated individually, according to Parisi.
However, in general, conduct such as this may result in criminal charges such as trespassing and criminal mischief.
The level of a criminal mischief charge has the potential to increase, depending on the amount of property damage caused, including felony charges.
There may be additional charges as well, based on the case’s circumstances, along with the evidence of the person’s conduct and intent.
For the active investigations in Beekman, Lagrange and Poughkeepsie, the District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department are working together to identify those involved, from the individuals who kicked or struck the doors to the individuals who drove them to the locations, recorded it, acted as a lookout and assisted or encouraged this.
The Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office will fully prosecute these matters.
“Where the evidence supports criminal charges, our Office will take these matters seriously and prosecute them appropriately,” Parisi said.
The District Attorney’s Office urged parents and guardians to talk with their kids about this trend, the potential for arrest, prosecution, financial liability for property damages and serious injury.
“Something portrayed on social media as a harmless prank can have very real consequences, both for the residents whose homes are targeted and for the individuals participating,” Parisi said. “The fact that conduct is motivated by a social-media trend does not insulate someone from criminal responsibility.”
“Our message is straightforward: do not participate in this challenge,” Parisi said.
Nickie Hayes is Breaking & Trending News Reporter for the Poughkeepsie Journal. See her most recent articles here. Contact reporter Nickie Hayes: NHayes@poughkee.gannett.com, 845-863-3518 and @nickieehayess on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Dangerous ‘door kick challenge’ hits Dutchess County; ‘not a joke,’ DA warns
Reporting by Nickie Hayes, Poughkeepsie Journal / Poughkeepsie Journal
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By Nickie Hayes, Poughkeepsie Journal | USA TODAY Network
