Illinois Police Warn About “Urban Exploration” TikTok Trend

Ah the home of great ideas is at it again.

There are a lot of different corners you can end up in on TikTok. Often, there are challenges or trends that common sense knows to be a clearly stupid idea but people still want to do it for the validation of successfully completing it.

One of the latest such terrible ideas is "urban exploration", which police in Bloomingdale, Illinois are saying needs to stop.

According to NBC Chicago, the TikTok trend consists of "thrilling urban exploration adventures through abandoned places".

Thrilling or not, it's still trespassing.

Legality aside, it's a dangerous thing to do. Squatters often live in abandoned places, hoping to gain ownership of them with adverse possession eventually. Abandoned locations are also popular hideouts for drug dealers and gangs.

Urban explorers (also called urbexers) have died while exploring abandoned places. Structures aren't always stable and may contain hazardous materials that could make you sick.

Trespassing in Illinois can cost you. In Illinois, it's a Class B misdemeanor with a $1,500 fine and up to 6 months in jail. Is that really worth it for the TikTok?

But there are some legal abandoned places in Illinois to visit and learn about. The state often has either signs up detailing their stories or even self-guided tours.

It's fun to explore old areas and learn the history behind them. But just make sure you're going somewhere you are allowed to go, whether it's public property or you can get permission from the landowner.