Prank calls can be harmless fun. That is, so long as the people you're pranking aren't police.
A swarm of police, fire and rescue squads were dispatched to Miley Cyrus' San Fernando Valley home Wednesday night after receiving a call reporting a possible robbery or home invasion.
Adding to the sense of urgency of the call: whoever reported the alleged crime-in-progress also claimed that shots had been fired at Cyrus' home.
North Hollywood police confirm to E! News that they responded to a call for a kidnapping and shooting on the premises.
Springing into action, officers arrived, formed a perimeter around the property and slowly approached the house only to find that no one was home. Cyrus has been spotted this week in Philadelphia, joining Liam Hemsworth on his new film.
In the end, police determined that the call was a prank and is common enough that it has a name: "swatting."
It also has severe repercussions.
"If the person is found, they will be arrested and prosecuted because it was a false call, a false allegation," an LAPD spokesperson told E! News.
—Reporting by Sharareh Drury