A mysterious scene at an apparently abandoned suburban Chicago home has raised concerns after viral footage appeared to show lights turning on and off in what some interpreted as a call for help.
Video posted to TikTok Sunday showed the boarded up home in Plainfield with a porch light flashing in what the poster said resembled Morse code for SOS: Three short flickers, three long flickers and three short flickers.
Advertisement
“I was driving past a boarded up house, and I noticed both the front and back porch lights were flashing like a signal. Not a power flicker, they were purposefully turning on and off, over and over,” the caption on the video read. “It immediately reminded me of Morse code or a silent distress signal and if someone was trapped inside, that could be their only way to communicate.”
The poster said they called 911 and waited for officers to arrive, but returned later only to find the home’s lights still turning off and on and no officers around.
Tonight in Plainfield, Illinois, I saw something that has been bothering me. I was driving past a boarded up house, and I noticed both the front and back porch lights were flashing like a signal. Not a power flicker, they were purposefully turning on and off, over and over. It immediately reminded me of Morse code or a silent distress signal and if someone was trapped inside, that could be their only way to communicate. I called 911 right away and stayed nearby until police arrived. They pulled up across the street at what looked like a truck stop area, and from where I was parked, it didn’t look like they got out of their car. After waiting about 10 minutes, I left thinking they were going to investigate. About 15 minutes later I drove past again and the lights were still flashing, no police in sight and I could faintly hear what sounded like someone calling for help. So I called 911 again. A Plainfield officer called me back and said They waited outside the house for 20 minutes They saw and heard nothing They weren’t going back And that a “flickering light” isn’t enough reason to investigate They also told me they “don’t know Morse code,” and acted like I was crazy for thinking flashing lights could be a signal. I don’t want to assume the worst but if someone is trapped, hiding, or being held against their will, turning lights off and on might be the only safe way to ask for help. I did what I could. I called twice. But if anyone lives near this area, please keep an eye out or call if you see something urgent. And to the person whose inside that house, If you were trying to signal for help, I’m sorry if the system failed you. I took you seriously.
Another user posted similar footage of the home and said the scene has happened over the last few months.
“At the minimum, it is creepy… at the worst, something horrific is happening… and at the very least, we would hope the authorities would investigate and/or communicate what is going on. If nothing is going on, please don’t use an SOS setting for your lights…” the post read.
In later footage, police were seen outside the home, including a squad car from the Will County Sheriff’s office.
“At the very least, authorities are taking this seriously and are checking the house out!” the most recent post read.
SOS in Morse code! An abandoned property in Plainfield, IL flashes SOS. This property appears abandoned with boarded up windows and doors… from the inside. It’s surprising it would even have electricity… let alone flash SOS Concerned, we contacted the police. They went to a parking lot across the busy street, said they didn’t see anything, didn’t know Morse code, and would not investigate the property. With further investigation—including other witnesses, it appears these SOS lights have been happening at this property at least for a few months across 1-3 lights on the house: front porch to the right, side, and back porch. Some people have seen packages delivered there and disappeared. Some people have heard Plainfield Police and Fire Departments use the house for training (but why wouldn’t they say that when contacted?). Others said the property is under renovations (hense the boarded up windows and doors from the inside) and the light is to scare trespassers (but why would a property currently up for COMMERCIAL sale for 6.7 million be under house renovation?) At the minimum, it is creepy… at the worst, something horrific is happening… and at the very least, we would hope the authorities would investigate and/or communicate what is going on. If nothing is going on, please don’t use an SOS setting for your lights… HOPEFULLY we got concerned over nothing, but just want to make sure people are safe
Plainfield police confirmed to NBC Chicago they responded to the home “on at least two separate occasions.”
“On each occasion, there were no indications that anyone was in immediate danger based on the observations or information available to the responding officer(s). Additionally, the residence appeared to be secure,” the department’s Commander Anthony Novak said in a statement, noting that the home is under the jurisdiction of the Will County Sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s office told NBC Chicago that deputies visited the home twice “but observed nothing suspicious.”
“Everything is locked up/boarded up with no signs of anyone living there,” a spokesperson for the department said.
Further information on the house itself or why the lights appear to be flashing were not immediately given.
