Natacha Casal
•7/28/2026
A group of teens broke into the abandoned Regal Cinema movie theater at Coconut Point Mall, filming their actions and posting the video on TikTok, where it has received more than 100,000 views. Terry Miller, a parent visiting from Ohio, shared his reaction to the video. "It's actually upsetting that somebody would do something like that. Yeah. I mean, even putting it on TikTok like that, they're incriminating themselves," Miller said. Angela Miller, also from Ohio, expressed her concerns about the behavior shown in the video. "I just think it's amazing how these kids are, how things have changed, how they just think it's okay to do all of this stuff. It is terrible. And I couldn't imagine these kids doing that," she said. The video shows the teens entering the building through a small opening and exploring the lobby, theaters, and offices. While the lights are on, the building appears to be in poor condition. Terry Miller added, "I wish they just, you know, kids had a little bit more respect for doing what they need to be doing and doing the right thing, thinking, 'All right, I do this. What kind of consequences am I going to get into or how my parents are going to feel about it?'" This incident is part of a trend called urbex, or urban exploring, where people visit off-limits, hidden, or abandoned man-made structures, document their findings, and share them online. In Florida, trespassing can lead to felony charges. The Lee County Sheriff's Office confirmed they are investigating the incident. In a statement, they said: "4th Precinct Patrol is aware of the incident, and detectives with the 4th Precinct Crimes Section are actively investigating. LCSO has deployed watch towers as an additional security measure as well as increased both foot and roving patrols throughout the area. Patrol personnel have also proactively met with Coconut Point security staff to conduct a security assessment and provide safety recommendations for the future. We strongly urge the public not to participate in these TikTok trends. Engaging in these activities could result in trespassing or other criminal charges, provided law enforcement determines that statutory violations have occurred. The investigation remains active as detectives continue to collaborate with our partners at Coconut Point and review all available information." The Coconut Point Mall has not yet responded to requests for comment. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.
