Dearborn Co. Sheriff: Juvenile Pranks Occurring at Alarming Rate

Individuals have been forcefully knocking on doors and windows during the overnight hours.

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(Dearborn County, Ind.) - The Dearborn County Sheriff's Office is alerting the community of a trend that seems to be occurring at an alarming rate, particularly among juveniles and young adults. 

According to a news release, the behavior resembles the old prank known as "ding-dong ditching". 

Individuals have been targeting homes in the middle of the night or early morning hours, kicking and banging on doors, as well as windows, causing damage to property. 

Parents and guardians are advised to communicate the dangers of doing such activity. 

"What seems like a harmless prank to those involved can honestly turn into a much more serious problem. Being awoken by loud banging in the nighttime, early morning hours by someone forcefully kicking a front door could lead a homeowner to believe someone is attempting to make entry into their residence, causing them to take defensive actions," reads a statement from the Sheriff's Office. 

Parents and guardians are strongly urged to be aware of their children's whereabouts and activities during the nighttime and early morning hours. 

The Sheriff's Office goal is to try and deter this type of behavior for the safety of everyone in the community. 

If you have any information on these types of incidents, or have surveillance video, contact the Sheriff's Office at 812-537-3431.