"​Ding Dong Ditch" Game Can Be Dangerous, Northampton Police Warn

NORTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP, PA — The latest TikTok trend - the childhood game of Ding Dong Ditch - can escalate and become dangerous, Northampton Township Police say.

The simple way of playing is to ring a doorbell or knock on someone’s door and run, trying not to get caught or seen.

This simple game, however, can easily escalate and become dangerous, police say.

"For someone playing the game, they may come across a homeowner who might escalate the game to a level for a variety of reasons," police said. "For a homeowner, a knock or ring in the middle of the night can cause panic, not knowing why someone would be at their home at such an hour."

Increasingly in today’s society and in recent news, knocking or ringing a doorbell in the middle of the night could end up being more dangerous and with tragic consequences, police are say.

"Parents, please take time to talk to your children about the dangers of playing this game. We have taken reports and have come across homeowners whose front doors have been damaged from more than a simple 'knock,' which turns the game into criminal mischief," police said.