How far would you go for a good laugh? Would you tear a soap dispenser from the bathroom wall or take one of the stall doors? Would you try stealing a sink or maybe an entire toilet? Would you venture beyond the bathroom and aim for a locker, a computer desktop, or a projector? 

Or would you dare steal your teacher’s personal microwave? One of Mrs. Breegan Gholson’s students dared to do just that two weeks ago.  

“He was caught, not because I was here. He took from me when there was a substitute,” Mrs. Gholson said. “However, his intent was not to keep the microwave but to return it. It wasn’t meant to get likes. I don’t think it was harmful in my eyes because of the relationship the student and I have. However, it’s a terrible trend. My situation wasn’t comparable.”

Mrs. Gholson’s student is one of many individuals participating in the “Devious Lick” trend. The “Devious Lick”, also referred to as the diabolical or the demonic lick, is a recent Tik Tok trend which prompts students to record and post videos themselves stealing random items from their school in efforts to achieve “the most devious lick.” 

“Students just want to look cool,” sophomore Vivian Nguyen said. “They want to seem unique, so they do the most to stand out.” 

Like Mrs. Gholson’s student, the trend began as a harmless joke with students pretending to steal items in their classrooms. However, the trend escalated when students began stealing school property. Items all around the school have gone missing including bathroom signs, soap dispensers, stall doors, and door handles. Students have managed to steal temporary speed bumps on one of the school parking lots as well. 

“I walked in on someone stealing a whole toilet tissue holder,” sophomore Viola Lalugba said. 

There are mixed feelings about the trend, some students find the trend humorous while others find it disturbing and harmful to the school.  

“I feel both ways,” sophomore Tiana Matijevic said. “It’s funny because the school doesn’t have to do anything about it because it’s a trend. It’s not funny because COVID is getting worse, and people aren’t able to wash their hands and sanitize.”  

However, what students may not realize is that there are dire consequences to their actions. Administrators have begun going to necessary measures to stop further theft, including checking cameras in the hallways to identify who has stolen what. Teachers are advised to lock their rooms when they are not in them and to not let students leave their rooms before bells. 

“We have increased our supervision of the hallways and bathrooms and encouraged all of Raider Nation to immediately report any instances of this that they see happening on social media,” Associate Principal Mr. Adam Jacobson said. 

Once found, students will be accused of theft and, depending on the value of what they stole, students can be suspended. One student has already been suspended for posting about his lick on Snapchat and posing with what looked like a gun. The student was also sent to Achieve Academy.

“Students will certainly face school disciplinary consequences according to our student code of conduct. Additionally, there may be criminal consequences and a requirement to pay for the damages or replacement items,” Mr. Jacobson said. 

Moreover, by stealing from the school, students are showing little regard and respect for their teachers and staff workers. 

“I guess I’m not understanding why some students would want to steal from the very institutes that are trying to give them everything they can,” Mrs. Gholson said. “I know it’s just a soap dispenser, and it’s just a bathroom sign. But it’s a piece of this whole school.”