Police warning over ‘killer clown’ craze set to return after horror movie IT released – Coventry Telegraph

Police fear a killer clown craze which swept Coventry could return after the release of Hollywood horror movie IT.

The new film, based on a Stephen King novel, tells the story of an evil demon who takes the shape of a clown and terrorises children in Maine, America.

A spate of incidents were reported across Birmingham and the UK last October as the killer clown phenomenon gripped the nation, sparking widespread terror.

Now police forces in America are issuing advice to people if they see a creepy dressed up joker on the streets.

The Pennsylvania State Police department issued a community awareness bulletin saying they are expected sightings due to IT being released on September 8.

The statement read: It is anticipated that creepy clown sightings could be reported starting as soon as September, in part due to the fact that the movie IT will be released in theatres.

The force is encouraging people who see the clowns to report them to their local police authority.

Coventry and the UK saw hundreds of killer clown sightings last year.

One of the most frightening incidents was when children were chased by clowns carrying fake knives in Folly Fields near the Folly Lane Social Club, Willenhall.

Another incident involved a clown in Henley Road, Henley Green, riding an off road bike.

During October there were 31 calls about sinister clowns.

Five of the callers told police they were being chased by people dressed as clowns.

One person reported being attacked by a clown and another reported a clown attacking someone else.

Two callers said they saw people dressed as clowns chasing children.

One caller told police about someone dressed as a clown jumping out at them.

Another said a person dressed as a clown had jumped out in front of their car.

In nine of the calls the caller simply said they had seen someone dressed as a clown or a group of people dressed as clowns.

Another worried caller rang police after seeing a social media post that clowns were on the way.

Police declared two of the clown calls during October to be faked by the callers.

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In another five cases the police didnt consider the call serious enough to get involved.

There were nine calls which the police followed up but couldnt find any trace of anyone dressed as clowns.

In two of the cases of someone being chased police recorded the incident as a crime.

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Police warning over 'killer clown' craze set to return after horror movie IT released - Coventry Telegraph