Police in Oswego, a Chicago suburb, issued a warning to parents and residents this week about a “potential problem” that authorities described as potentially “very dangerous.”
A variation of the “ding dong ditch” prank, the behavior involves “teens kicking or banging on doors” and then running away, police said.
“This behavior can be very dangerous for teens because a homeowner may think an intruder is trying to break into their home and arm themselves, believing they are about to be the victim of a home invasion,” Oswego police wrote in a Facebook post.
“Another risk is that knocking and kicking on a homeowner’s door could cause a serious or fatal medical problem, such as a heart attack, in an elderly person or someone with a medical condition,” the message continued.
Oswego police said they received a report Wednesday of such behavior.
Police have warned that people who commit such acts could face criminal prosecution, possibly for home invasion.
“Even if the offenders do not enter a residence, it can be considered an attempt,” police said. “Home invasion is a crime.”
“This is not a harmless prank,” police concluded, encouraging residents to call police whenever suspicious behavior is observed.
