A Surrey prankster fell while playing ding-dong ditch, startling a family before the video made them laugh

A Surrey resident woke to her doorbell early Sunday morning, but no one was there. After checking security camera footage, she realized someone had played ding-dong ditch at her home in the Panorama Ridge area. In an email to CTV News, Julia Michel said the ringing gave her family a scare. They were unsure why someone would be at their door at that hour, and the incident was unsettling at first. Watching the video turned their fear into amusement.

Michel said one of the pranksters took a spectacular fall on the way up to the house, got himself together and carried on with the prank. She called it a convincing demonstration of “instant karma.” She posted the video locally in hopes of identifying the pranksters, whose faces are mostly covered by masks. Michel said her family had never experienced anything like this before and had moved to the neighbourhood about six months ago, so she does not know whether it happens regularly. She said they had heard about more serious incidents in the area, including stolen vehicles and attempted break-ins, but not pranks like this. That was part of why being woken by the doorbell in the middle of the night felt unsettling: when suddenly jolted awake, people do not know it is teenagers pulling a prank, and their minds go to something more serious.

Sgt. Ali Gailus of the Surrey Police Service said a prank like this is not a criminal offence if it happens only once, causes no property damage and the people involved have not already been told to stay off the property. She said the service does not typically receive calls about these incidents, but urged residents to call police day or night if suspicious people or circumstances cause concern for their safety or property.

Gailus said what may seem like a minor prank, such as ringing someone’s doorbell, can cause distress and fear for residents. “A prank isn’t harmless when someone else is left feeling unsafe,” she added.