Creepy Clowns Making A Comeback In Illinois?

They're baaaaack — or, they very likely will be. A year after creepy clown sightings had people on edge nationwide, some police departments are bracing for another round of reports. Last fall, scary clown sightings were so prevalent, Chicago police were even patrolling for them as the Chicago Cubs headed into the playoffs. Now, state police in Pennsylvania are warning residents that the creepy clown craze could happen all over again, especially with a remake of killer clown classic "It" hitting theaters next month.

"It is anticipated that similar 'creepy clown' sightings could be reported starting as soon as September," police said in a community awareness bulletin issued on Wednesday.

The trend led to creepy clown panic last fall, with social media rumors of threats in Illinois and across the country. Most reports turned out to be pranks, and sightings were likely the work of a jokesters with a twisted sense of humor. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Last year in Plainfield, a social media threat — in the form of a photo of a clown standing in front of a local high school — was nothing more than a hoax, school officials said. Even an "Illinois Clown" Twitter account looked to calm fears with a post saying, "Students are spreading these rumors, hoping for a day off."

But in some cases, the danger was real. Last September, a 16-year-old was stabbed to death in Reading, Pennsylvania, when a fight broke out after a person appeared wearing a clown mask. And even pranks had a serious side: In New Jersey, a teenager looking to capitalize on the killer clown craze ended up getting arrested.

Sightings in Illinois last fall resulted in extra police patrols and additional security at some schools:

• In October, "crazy clown" threats led to added security in a Chicago Heights school district.
• Around the same time, a man in Worth described an encounter with a creepy, car horn-honking clown near a Metra station.
• Several days later, scary clown sightings were reported in Arlington Heights, including a report of a man in a clown mask riding a bike and a clown leaving a local park.
• Police in Evergreen Park got multiple calls about a scary clown spotted near a local library and park.
• Reports of creepy clowns armed with weapons in Carol Stream were just fakes, police said.
• Creepy clowns were even a consideration — along with terrorists — as the Cubs headed to the playoffs in October.
• Two years before the scary clown phenomenon went nationwide, an employee at a suburban haunted house was charged with battery for touching patrons with a sex toy while dressed in a scary clown costume.

Police in Pennsylvania said they think sightings will ramp up as a remake of the Stephen King clown horror story "It" hits theaters on Sept. 8.

»Photo via NJ State Police