First sighting of 'killer clown' in Coventry reported to police

[dutchman]

Police have confirmed that the new craze which started in America has arrived in Henley Green



A so-called “killer clown” has been spotted in Coventry, police have confirmed.

Social media users had claimed that someone had been chased by a person in a clown mask late on Friday night.

And now West Midlands Police have confirmed that the disturbing incident did take place.

The clown craze has been creating mass hysteria on social media, but up until now, there has not been any definitive sightings in Coventry .

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “We had a report at 8.20pm on Saturday October 8 of a man in a clown mask on an off-road bike on Henley Road.”

It comes after a creepy photo emerged of a clown hiding in a McDonald’s drive-thru, waiting for unsuspecting customers in the West Midlands, and Midlands title Worcester News, reported that it has received reports that a girl was chased by a man wearing a clown mask.

Unconfirmed reports of similar incidents in Evesham, Worcester, and Droitwich have also appeared over the past couple of days.

Police are warning they will arrest any pranksters who dress up as clowns to shock others after an incident was reported in Worcestershire.

The unsettling phenomenon, which began in America, sees kids being terrified by cruel tricksters who dress up as clowns and jump out from behind bushes.

The sinister trend has carried over onto social media, with a number of reports of people setting up Twitter or Facebook accounts as clowns and making threats to attack schools.

It is unknown if the clown in Coventry was targeting anyone of a specific age.

Anyone with information should call the police on 101.

[dutchman]

'Killer clown' craze prompts Coventry fancy dress shop to take action to stop pranksters

The ‘killer clown’ craze has forced one Coventry fancy dress shop to take drastic steps.

Glad Rags Fancy Dress, in Hinckley Road , is taking the names and addresses of people hiring or purchasing clown costumes - if they’re deemed suspicious.

One staff member told the Telegraph that they were expecting an increase in the number of people looking for clown costumes .

She said: “We were expecting it to happen, but it hasn’t.

“We’ve said that if anyone coming for clown costumes did look a bit suspicious we would take down their names and addresses.

“It’s all a bit scary.”

The unsettling phenomenon, which began in America, has seen kids left terrified by cruel tricksters who dress up as clowns and jump out from behind bushes.

The sinister trend has carried over onto social media , with a number of reports of people setting up Twitter or Facebook accounts as clowns and making threats to attack schools.

Though while there was a pretty scary sighting in Coventry, another fancy dress shop said it hadn’t seen an increase in clown paraphernalia being sold.

A staff member at Jokers Corner in Far Gosford Street said: “We haven’t had any increase actually.

“I can honestly say that so far we’ve sold one or two costumes and one or two masks.”

Currently fifteen ‘killer clown’ costumes are being sold by Coventry eBay users who live within ten miles of the city centre.

Dozens of people have taken to Facebook to share their experiences with the clowns, who have been spotted in the Henley Green, Wood End and Bell Green areas of Coventry.

A page called “Clown Hunting in Coventry” has even been set up by people who have been angered by the sinister pranks.

[rebbonk]

if they’re deemed suspicious.

[dutchman]

Creepy clown craze hits Nuneaton

A 'KILLER clown' craze has hit Nuneaton following reports of a frightening sighting in a park.

The News understands that Warwickshire Police received a call about someone being dressed as a creepy clown in Tomkinson Road recreation ground at the weekend.

Superintendent David Gardner has appealed for calm and stressed that anyone considering carrying out the prank should think about the distress they could cause to people.

"Since last week we have received reports from members of the public who have seen or been approached by people dressed up as clowns," Supt Gardner said.

"We believe this is linked to a wider trend across the country and in the USA.

"While we understand that such incidents could be considered pranks by some I would like to appeal to those carrying out this behaviour, or thinking of taking part, to really consider the distress and fear they could cause people, particularly the more vulnerable members of our community such as children and the elderly."

There have been reports up and down the country about people being dressed as creepy clowns and scary encounters.

[dutchman]

Knife-wielding 'killer clowns' chase terrified children across Coventry park



Two knife wielding ‘killer clowns’ left a group of children terrified in Willenhall after chasing them across a park, according to residents.

Reports suggest two people wearing clown masks and brandishing fake knives chased a group of children across the park near to Folly Lane Social Club, in Willenhall.

They were also spotted lurking around Willenhall Wood during the incident on Wednesday evening.

The reports have been shared on social media along with a photograph on the Pride of Willenhall Facebook page.

One post from Susie James reads: “Two idiots wearing clown masks just chased my son’s friends across Folly Field.

“The kids were scared witless. They think they were teenagers by their size and the way they were dressed.

“They went back off towards Willenhall when they had scared my son’s friends as one of them had hurt himself falling over when chasing the boys.

“If you know anyone who is doing this please spread the word that it’s not funny. Our kids are now not allowed to play on Folly Fields. What if they chase a kid into the road?”

She added: “We are also being told that they are in Willenhall Wood and carrying fake knives. How stupid are these idiots?”

Doesn't look anything like "Two knife wielding killer clowns" to me?

[dutchman]

One clown call to police EVERY DAY during October in Coventry

People terrified by sinister clowns rang police on average once a day during October in Coventry.

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.

In another five cases the police didn’t consider the call serious enough to get involved.

There were nine calls which the police followed up but couldn’t find any trace of anyone dressed as clowns.

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

Other calls ended with advice being given and an inquiry being completed.

The incidents were revealed in a Freedom of Information Act request made to the West Midlands Police.

Across the West Midlands Police force area there were almost 300 calls about clowns during October.

Wildly exaggerated sighting reports in the Telegraph may have had something to do with the number of calls? <---Telegraph reporter