Police in Virginia are investigating an apparent attempted break-in after a terrifying video showed three people in creepy Halloween costumes trying to force their way into a family’s home.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, Oct. 14, in Alexandria, just south of Washington, D.C., and was captured on a Ring doorbell camera. Alexandria Police Department Public Information Officer Rebekka Heite confirmed that officers are searching for three suspects in connection with the case, which has since gone viral online.
As of Friday, Oct. 17, no arrests had been made. The incident was reported at around 9:50 p.m. on Oct. 14.
During a press conference, Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire said investigators believe the trio was attempting to break into the home. “I want to be very clear, this is a very serious matter,” McGuire stated. “What may have started as a prank quickly turned into a criminal act when they began making threatening and alarming comments toward the family.”
Doorbell footage shows the masked suspects standing outside the house, ringing the bell, knocking, and jiggling the door handle. “It’s either you come out or we come in,” one of them says, while another adds, “Your worst nightmare.” One is also heard threatening, “I see you… open the door.”
The homeowner, Shayla Whiteside, told Storyful she initially thought it was a prank but soon realized it was much more dangerous. “They tried forcing the front door open, jiggled the handles, broke down my backyard fence, and tore through the back screen, screaming threats that they would kill us and come back,” she said.
Whiteside said the suspects appeared to be strangers. Fortunately, no one was injured, and the trio eventually left, with one of them heard saying, “We’ll be back.”
Police are urging anyone with information to contact the Alexandria Police Department at 703-746-4444.
The suspects’ behavior mirrored scenes from the 2008 horror film The Strangers, in which three masked individuals terrorize a couple inside their home—a chilling real-life echo of the movie’s plot.
