Concerns over kids buying baked beans as 'beaning' trend goes viral
Police have issued a warning to shops over a concerning new viral trend involving baked beans.
Shops have been urged to look out for children buying large quantities of the tinned goods, while parents are being encouraged to check their cupboards.
It comes after 'beaning', a bizarre new trend, took off on social video sharing app TikTok, the Mirror reports.
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'Beaning' involves children smearing baked beans onto people's driveways, doors and cars - and, of course, filming it.
Numerous videos have been posted on social media with the hashtag #beanbanditz.
The messy craze, which is also potentially harmful to dogs, has prompted West Yorkshire Police to issue a warning to retailers and parents.
PCSO Michelle Owens said: "It has come to the attention of the police that a new trend has started by groups of youths called 'beaning'.
"This involves youths throwing the contents of a can of beans over properties, very similar to the trend of throwing eggs at properties.
"If you work in a shop, please can you be aware of youths buying large quantities of cans of beans, if you have children living at home, please be mindful if you see them removing cans of beans from the family home."
Last month, Surrey police launched an appeal after the village of Wonersh was terrorised by so-called bean bandits.
In one picture, four empty cans could be seen discarded near a doorstep studded with little orange beans.
Another showed a grey car with sauce dribbling down the driver's window, leaving an unsightly orange smudge.
