Concern is mounting in the Chicago suburb of Oswego after local police issued a warning regarding a new "dangerous" trend among teens that has the potential to end in serious legal consequences or harm. As detailed by NBC Chicago, youths are engaging in a variation of the old "ding dong ditch" game, but instead, they are aggressively kicking or beating on doors and then fleeing the scene.

This behavior, which might seem like a mischievous escapade to the young individuals involved, is fraught with risks; it could be construed by homeowners as an attempt at home invasion, potentially leading to an armed confrontation, and this situation is further complicated by the fact that teens might not realize the severity until they find themselves in a confrontation or facing homeowners who perceive the safety of their domicile under immediate threat. Oswego police emphasized in the Facebook post that "This behavior can be very dangerous for the teens as a homeowner may think an intruder is trying to break in and arm themselves, believing that they are about to be a victim of a home invasion," as stated by 1430 WCMY.

In response to this noted spike in such incidents, Oswego police are clear in their position: consequences can be stringent, and in some cases, the repercussions can escalate to criminal charges of home invasion in situations where the law views it as an attempt even if the would-be perpetrators don't enter the property, "Even if offenders don't enter a residence, it could be considered an attempt," police said. "Home invasion is a felony," as per NBC Chicago.