Killer clown fad

[trsv]

Hello, my 13yo daughter was discussing with me the killer clown fad and that there were sightings in our city too.
Today she called me pretty upset that a person with clown mask on frightened her on her way home from school. She passes through a quiet and usually well populated park on her way back - this time there wasn't anyone on the footpath. She became aware of someone - a person with a clown mask was watching her next to some bushes. She quickened her step and when he started to walk towards her, she run away. When she stopped a bit further away, she saw he took his mask off and was laughing and she recognised a boy from her school, or at least is fairly certain she has seen him around school.
She will be reporting him tomorrow to her school as she was really scared by this person.
I'm wandering, given the clown fad is becoming a bit of a problem and many young people will probably think it is funny to scare younger children, is this something I need to report to the local police or rather not? TIA for your input.

[trsv]

Update: I decided to ring the police, they have recorded the incident and advised me to also report it to the school. Police have said as the fad has appeared in the news it may become more common issue now.

[PinkBuffalo]

Hi there
Hope your daughter is ok. You did the right thing reporting. Our local police (Kent) have advised to report on 101 any sightings. I think they are taking this seriously as there is a whole operation around it. Nothing very untoward has happened round our way, but there have been a few sightings in September of people dressed as clowns outside after dark.
Must have been scary for your DD though. I'm hoping it will start to calm down after Halloween, but that will seem like a long time for a 13 year old.
If she knows the boy, she is wise to speak to the school as well.
Sorry i don't have any real advice but hope your DD feels better soon

[trsv]

Hi, thank you - I will be reporting this to the school and I hope the police will send some patrols in the park in the next few days during times when children go back from school.
My daughter isn't so scared now as she realised it is a boy she's (probably) seen around school and not a real threat though when she called me she sounded very upset. She now laughs how it scared her even more as moments after the clown sighting she saw a person who just bought a new hatchet and walked in her direction so she thought for a moment he is joining the clown. A bit later she realised the hatchet has the tags on and she just met an innocent shopper walking home. Poor thing, too much of an excitement in one afternoon.

[weegiemum]

My dd2 is 12 and the other girls at her school are terrified about clowns on Halloween, dd2 has worked really hard making a mermaid tail for her costume and now she's scared to go to the school party - the clown stuff has gone out of control!

[LemonRedwood]

I teach year 6 and wondered what on earth the killer clown thing they were all talking about was.

Thank you for enlightening me! I foresee having to deal with some issues to do with this as the secondary school we feed into is only a 5 min walk away so there's a lot of cross over at end of school time.

[JeanGenie23]

A man was arrested earlier dressed as a clown, he was carrying what turned out to be a plastic machete. What the hell are these people thinking?

[trsv]

LemonRedwood, the police advised to report it to the school so they can address the issue with their pupils. As with all fads children can become too fascinated by them and this clown thing is not funny at all.

[LemonRedwood]

Thanks trsv I'll be having a chat with our head tomorrow. These things can get out of hand quickly so I'm glad I saw your thread. and I'm bloody terrified of clowns

[Bestthingever]

I'm a bit concerned that some idiots will decide to have a laugh on Hallowe'en freaking little kids out.

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

It's here in Canada too. Fucking little idiots. Clown disguises making these poxy teenagers all brave about terrorising little primary school children in school yards. I'm sure it will only get worse the closer we get to Hallowe'en.

[onecrazycook]

There's been several sightings in my town, photos of them posted on social media. Worst of all, one "clown" exposed himself to a couple of kids at a playground in a nearby village.

It seems to have stemmed from the remake of the film IT, which has had a lot of publicity and has just finished filming.

[trsv]

Bestthingever, I'm fairly certain many kids will think it is a hilarious idea to dress up as clowns on Halloween's night... I'm going out with my children and taking the neighbour's children with us on 31st so I hope they will feel safe enough.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

in my town now too. I've briefed dd to phone 101 and to calmly ignore. I only hope I can follow the same advice having been violently attacked in the past by a stranger in daylight. I know intellectually how to react but I'm worried I'll panic.

[DiegeticMuch]

As fads go, this clown thing is one of the stupidest. I hope it peters out soon.

[onecrazycook]

If you are attacked by clowns, go for the juggler.

[specialsubject]

Hopefully everyone reported for this will get a fine for wasting police time, as well as harrassment.

[MangoMoon]

It's all to do with the remake of 'It' as a pp said.
My 14 yr old told me about it - it's all over social media apparently.

I am scared shitless of clowns, so my 11 yr old thought currently thinks it hysterical to put his clown mask on from a previous Halloween & hide in various places round the house....

I'd do what you did in this instance - 101 & school, but only because this thing seems to be getting arms & legs added on a daily basis.
According to 'good authority' (i.e. hysterical teens in the internet who love a good bit of drama & intrigue) some 'clowns' are gearing up to going on a killing spree at Halloween.

[JeanGenie23]

It could be reasonably harmless, if it was just clowns popping up at various places (I'm not scared of clowns like some are though) however it's the threat of violence and intimidation, some are carrying hammers and machetes, these did later turn out to be Plastic, it isn't funny and it's only a matter of time before someone is hurt.

[Stopyourhavering]

It's made front page of DM now!
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3832157/Fresher-19-terrifies-students-storms-university-campus-dressed-clown-brandishing-CHAINSAW.html

Definitely report any sitings.....Police are taking this King of mindless 'prank' very seriously....only a matter of time before some one is hurt imo

[WalrusGumboot]

Smh. Humans really are the strangest of creatures!

[Waltermittythesequel]

In the States there have been sexual assaults on children by these "killer clowns". Why anyone would want to emulate that is beyond me.

[conscientioussuicidee]

My daughter is 7.5 and terrified about this. She can't quite get clowns are real and think they will climb through her bedroom window tonight.

Bloody older kids at junior school scare mongering.

[conscientioussuicidee]

*arent real (!!)