KEN KIRSCHENBAUM, ESQ
ALARM - SECURITY INDUSTRY LEGAL EMAIL NEWSLETTER / THE ALARM EXCHANGE
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increasing value of residential video surveillance
June 20, 2026
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increasing value of residential video surveillance
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Ken,
A recent incident in Howell Township, New Jersey highlights the increasing value of residential video surveillance and the very real dangers posed by social media “challenges” targeting homes and property.
According to a May 25, 2026 press release issued by the Howell Township Police Department, officers responded to a residence after a juvenile suspect kicked in a homeowner’s front door during a TikTok challenge-related act. The juvenile reportedly fled the scene on a bicycle before being stopped and detained by the homeowner until police arrived.
The homeowner’s Ring doorbell camera captured the incident, including footage of the juvenile approaching the residence and forcefully kicking the front door open. Police later confirmed the door and frame had sustained significant damage.
What makes this incident particularly noteworthy for the security industry is what happened next. After the juvenile was charged with criminal mischief and released, the juvenile’s mother alleged that the homeowner had pointed a firearm at her son during the encounter. Police returned to the scene, interviewed witnesses, and reviewed all available surveillance footage. According to the department, “all eyewitnesses reported that at no point in time was a firearm present or displayed,” and investigators found no evidence supporting the allegation.
Without the video evidence and multiple corroborating sources, this easily could have become a prolonged “he said, she said” dispute with potentially serious consequences for the homeowner. Properly deployed cameras document events objectively protect homeowners from false allegations, assist law enforcement investigations, reduce liability exposure and preserve facts before stories change. Increasingly, video systems are serving as the neutral witness nobody can argue with.
The incident underscores the importance of family conversations about dangerous social media trends and so-called “TikTok challenges.” Among them, kicking doors, running into homes, throwing objects at houses, stealing vehicles or property, tampering with utility equipment and assaulting strangers for online views
Many young participants fail to understand that these “pranks” quickly escalate into criminal charges, physical injury, or worse. Homeowners may perceive forced entry as an active burglary or violent threat, especially during nighttime hours in jurisdictions where residents legally possess firearms.
I urge everyone reading this to have a conversation with your kids, grandkids and anyone who will listen about the consequences of social media-driven behavior. One bad decision can result in being arrested, a criminal record, civil liability, injury or a tragic confrontation.
For our industry, this incident is a reminder that residential security today extends beyond intrusion detection. Good video doesn’t just catch criminals. Sometimes it protects innocent people from false accusations. Systems featuring video doorbells, perimeter cameras, smart notifications, and cloud-based recording are essential tools for both crime prevention and post-incident documentation.
Best,
Peter Goldring
peter@goldringprotection.com
516-640-1410
Goldring Protection Inc
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Response
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Thanks for the above. [Peter by the way is a fire commissioner in NJ and a Nicet level fire alarm expert; he is available to consult with the industry and is listed on The Alarm Exchange] It would be hard not to agree and it certainly states a great case for video. Alarm dealers need to take advantage of the camera services that are available.
The Commercial All in One covers cameras and the different levels of camera service. There are also specialty camera contracts, mobile surveillance, remote video guard, guard response and virtual doorman. By the way, hope there's more to the above. The mother should have been arrested for filing a false police report which may have more consequences than her kid will face for property damage.
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Ken Kirschenbaum,Esq
Kirschenbaum & Kirschenbaum PC
Attorneys at Law
200 Garden City Plaza
Garden City, NY 11530
516 747 6700 x 301
ken@kirschenbaumesq.com
www.KirschenbaumEsq.com
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