San Gabriel Valley Area Police on Alert After 'Creepy Clowns' Pranks Reports

MONTEBELLO, CA -- Montebello police on Thursday said extra patrols have been ordered near schools in the wake of reports of pranks involving people dressed as clowns.

The announcement came a day after a 19-year-old man was arrested by Glendora police for allegedly making threats against his former high school on social media accounts dedicated to clowns.

William Salazar allegedly made threats against Sierra High School. He was held on $50,000 bail.

Also on Wednesday, authorities in Lancaster warned people to be aware of three recent incidents in which a group of males wearing clown masks and possibly carrying kitchen knives approached pedestrians in the area.

"At this time, our station is aware of three individual incidents throughout the city," said a statement issued by the sheriff's Lancaster Station.

"In all three incidents, there was nothing taken from the victims and it appears that the group of suspects is only trying to scare the victims," the statement said.

There have also been reports of "scare tactic" style videos appearing online, the sheriff's department reported.

People feeling threatened were advised to call authorities.

-- City News Service, photo via Pixabay