Schools warn parents about 'Devious Licks' TikTok trend

Schools are speaking out about the 'Devious Licks' TikTok trend that began earlier this month. 

'Devious Licks' is a challenge started on the social media app that showcases students stealing school items, including paper towels, soap, lab equipment and more. 

In a typical video, a student will unzip his or her backpack and reveal allegedly stolen goods. The bigger the item, the more popular the video. Students have gone so far as to steal parking signs, school laptops and desk chairs.

The trend first started Sept. 1 by a user who posted a video boasting about a box of disposable surgical masks that allegedly had been stolen from a school.

"A month into school ... absolutely devious lick," the user captioned the clip.

The video garnered 345,800 views before it was removed by the app.

Another user's video accumulated more than 13 million views when he posted a video unzipping his backpack to show off a wall-mounted hand sanitizer dispenser.

TikTok officials say the videos violate community guidelines. The company has since removed the videos from the platform. 

Orange County Public Schools spokesman Michael Ollendorff said four out of the 205 schools in the area have been impacted by the TikTok challenge. 

However, schools are remaining cautious. 

Andrew Leftakis, principal of Windermere High School, sent a message to the school's families yesterday, asking them to be aware of the challenge. 

"I want to make you aware of an issue regarding an internet 'challenge' that has made its way to our school," Leftakis said in the message. "Please know that we view this as a very serious offense and is theft of school property."

Leftakis made it clear that students who participated in the trend would receive serious consequences. 

"Students who participate in this type of behavior will be subject to discipline according to the code of student conduct up to and including suspension and possible arrest," Leftakis said. 

Leftakis encouraged parents to discuss the issue with their students and to report any information on the trend immediately. 

Matthew Turner, principal of West Orange High School, provided a similar message to his students as part of his morning announcements.