Many know the trend called “devious licks” circulating around TikTok. The popular trend that’s made its way through schools involves stealing things from schools–soap dispensers to toilets–and then posting about it later.

That trend has circulated throughout school districts, and has now made it to Olathe West.

The devious lick trend began in early September, starting when a TikTok user stole a box of masks. He posted it with the caption, “look at this devious lick.”

From there it took off, students vandalizing, stealing and joining in on the trend. Schools in many states and districts have reported vandalisms as the trend spread around through social media.

The vandalism happening in the bathrooms had caught the attention of many administrators and students, and administrator Greg Smith has been aware of the situation from the start, helping efforts to stop the vandalism.

“Well, this whole TikTok thing, I think we kinda had our first issue with it last week. But in some form, we’ve had vandalism off and on since the school opened,” Smith said. “As far as we know directly tied to this devious licks thing, last week was the first time it was tied in with that whole thing.” 

Since the beginning, administrators had been working on ways to stop the vandalism, including having teachers stay on watch.

“When we have to, we’ll lock down certain bathrooms if we need to,” Smith said. “And then we’ve just encouraged our teachers to be visible and active and pop in the bathrooms here and there.”

Principal Jay Novacek sent out an email regarding the vandalism on Sep. 14.

“He asked parents to talk to their kids about it and remind them that it isn’t a good thing,” Smith said. “And on top of it, it’s criminal to do damage like that.”

The email written by Novacek was sent to all parents and faculty, expressing his concerns and what had been happening.

“Yesterday, we had two doors taken off bathroom stalls and two soap dispensers ripped off the wall,” Novacek wrote. “Today a mirror was taken down and the faucet broken. I encourage you to have a conversation with your student about not committing any criminal acts of vandalism to their school.” 

The devious lick challenge has caused destruction in other Olathe schools, such as Olathe North.

“I know the other four high schools in town have all had the same thing going on,” Smith said.

A week ago, Olathe North officials said that doors have been taken off of bathroom stalls, soap and toilet paper dispensers stolen and toilet seats ripped from stools.

“They see this as a joke,” Novacek said in the email. “I do not. Our custodians work too hard every single day to put up with this nonsense.” 

Bathrooms had been closed after vandalism had hit, disrupting some students and faculty.