"Slug unmasked as culprit behind German apartment doorbell pranks"

Residents of a Bavarian Apartment Building Mistake Slug for Prankster After Late-Night Doorbell Disturbance

Residents of an apartment building in southern Germany were baffled when their doorbells repeatedly rang late at night. Initially suspecting a teenage prank, they were surprised to discover the source was not a human troublemaker but a slug.

The persistent ringing had kept many awake well past midnight, prompting frustration. At first, some assumed it was the work of youths playing the "klingelstreich"—a common bell-ringing prank where perpetrators flee before being caught. However, after two officers arrived and found no one near the door, a closer inspection revealed the true cause: a slug sliding across the metal bell plate.

"We had already gone to bed and usually ignore the doorbell late at night. At first, I thought it might be kids from the vacant house nearby," said Lisa, 30, speaking to CuriosityNews. "But when my sister-in-law called to ask if our bell was also ringing, and we saw nobody outside, we grew uneasy. That’s when we contacted the police."

Together, residents and officers found the slug moving across the entry panel. "Its slimy trail was visible over the sensors," Lisa added.

Authorities in Schwabach later confirmed the slug had been relocated to a grassy area nearby.