Tenn. police issue clown warnings ahead of Halloween season

After a number of clown encounters involving children, police are warning people to be on the lookout for suspicious characters

By Police1 Staff

LEBANON, Tenn. — Clown sightings have been happening across the United States and the Tennessee Highway Patrol is reminding its residents to keep an eye out for suspicious characters this October.

A tweet by THP said to watch for clowns “trying to lure children into the woods” because they could be predators. Anyone who sees something is instructed to call police.

THP says watch for clowns trying to lure children in to the woods. They are possibly predators. Call 911 or *847 pic.twitter.com/7AaEOj4WuE
— TN Highway Patrol (@TNHighwayPatrol) September 24, 2016

"Some people probably think it's really funny, but again, I don't think it's intelligent to do something like that," Lebanon resident Chase Pennycuff told ABC11. "Standing in street corners with clown masks, it's not a very smart thing to do."

Other residents believe that it is not only dangerous for the children, but for those wearing the costumes.

"You come out of the woods dressed like that, come out on the wrong person. They have a gun, could be your life in danger," resident Hunter Sanders said. "It’s not worth your life for a simple joke."