The new TikTok trend called the “Devious Lick” has students of many different schools stealing various school property. It started as small as pens and papers and has now devolved into taking urinals, bathroom stall doors, projectors and even computers. A trend that began as a joke has devolved into people stealing for views.
I cannot fathom why people would decide that the best use of their time is to steal. Committing a crime is not funny or cool at all; people are doing this solely for a video. It has escalated to the point where students across the country are getting arrested for petty theft and criminal mischief. It is common sense that stealing or damaging someone else’s property is bad and yet kids are ignoring laws just for TikTok.
According to WFLA, several students in Polk County, Florida are now facing criminal charges for damaging and stealing bathroom supplies. These students will have a criminal record as a result, which will make it harder for them to secure a job. The schools affected are going to have to pay for damages. This trend is not only hurting schools and administration, it is hurting every student. Hygiene is more important now than ever with the pandemic and since all of the soap is being taken away, they are just fueling an already blazing fire for a petty and selfish reason.
People who say that the trend is a harmless joke likely don’t understand how much these things they are stealing cost. A urinal can cost 300 dollars just to buy; if the installation fee is included, it can be upwards of 1,000 dollars just for a prank. Stealing supplies from classrooms may even be worse as teachers often pay for their supplies out of their own wallets. The custodial staff is the main victim as their time and dignity is taken away to monitor and fix these bathrooms. Instead of cleaning classrooms, vacuuming, or taking out the trash, these custodians are having to monitor bathrooms to make sure that nothing gets stolen. They also are the ones who have to put in the time to fix these broken bathrooms and reinstall toilets which can be degrading when they’re fixing it because of a prank.
If I could, I would warn students across the country about the potential of devious licks to hurt themselves and others. A TikTok is never worth the price you will have to pay for stealing from a school. It is better to just stick to dancing.
Graphic via Flickr
