TikTok 'Door Kick Challenge' damages Ocean Beach home, repairs may exceed $2,000

Around 10 p.m. on Friday, a hooded person arrived at a house on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach, San Diego, and repeatedly kicked the front door, damaging the door frame and causing plaster around the entrance to crumble. Tracy Van De Walker, the homeowner, said her husband was asleep when the loud pounding began, prompting her to call local news. Video from the home’s security system shows the masked individual and several bicycles in the vicinity.

Van De Walker estimates that fixing the damage will cost over $2,000. This incident is part of a growing TikTok trend known as the "Door Kick Challenge," which escalates the classic doorbell-ringing prank with physical force. Similar episodes have been reported in nearby communities since 2023, including variations involving e-bikes and fireworks.