Masked teens kick in Cape Coral door, spark safety fears under Florida law

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

Surveillance footage from a home on NE 14th Avenue shows teens arriving in a car, walking up to the house barefoot and masked, and kicking the door in before running back to the vehicle. The loud bang and laughter can be heard in the video.

"You've got to know what your kids are doing," Cape Coral resident David Freo said.

The homeowner said she was sitting on her couch just feet away from the door when the incident occurred. This trend is like the ding-dong ditch, but you use your feet. It's more aggressive, and it's part of a dangerous trend happening around the Gulf Coast.

"The last thing I want to hear is somebody swinging their foot on the door and waking them up. Plus, you have families who have babies," said Levi Runyon.

Despite the presence of cameras and "no soliciting" signs on many houses in the neighborhood, the teens carried out the act and fled before anyone could catch them.

"This is a crime you could be causing—property damage or other issues. You're startling a homeowner. You never know in any of these cases what a person could end up doing," Cape Coral Police Department Public Affairs Officer Lisa Greenberg said.

Florida's "stand your ground" law allows homeowners to use deadly force if they feel in danger, raising concerns that this trend could lead to serious harm.

Cape Coral police are actively searching for the teens involved.

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