Creepy Clowns Making A Comeback In Maryland?

They're baaaaack — or, they very likely will be in the coming week. A year after creepy clown sightings had people on edge from Maryland to California, some police departments are bracing for another round of reports. Last fall, scary clown sightings were so prevalent — often as a prank — school officials in Montgomery County posted a letter to reassure parents they are monitoring threats. Now, state police in nearby 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," Pennsylvania police said in a community awareness bulletin issued on Wednesday. Closer to home, Anne Arundel County Police spokesman Lt. Ryan Frashure told Patch the department has received no such reports this year, and he hopes it stays that way.

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. (SIGN UP: Get Patch’s daily newsletter and real-time news alerts, or like us on Facebook. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

Last year, the spooky reports and online rumors even prompted at least two Howard County elementary schools to ban clown costumes at Halloween. Atholton Elementary School in Columbia and Centennial Lane Elementary School in Ellicott City issued a ban on clowns at their festivities. School officials said children were not allowed to dress as clowns for Halloween celebrations and fall festivals at the schools.

The first creepy clown report was said to have been in South Carolina in mid-August 2016 when a group of children told a sinister tale of clowns trying to entice them with money to an abandoned house in the woods. Police weren’t sure if the sightings were real or the product of children’s imaginations. As the craze spread, creepy clown sightings became something of an urban legend. The reports even resulted in school lockdowns in Ohio and Alabama. Ronald McDonald had to lay low for a while, reportedly limiting his appearances due to "the current climate around clown sightings..." a spokesperson for the franchise told NBC.

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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.

Reports in Maryland last year included:

• Sightings of clowns harassing children turned out to be fake in Annapolis, where several children reported seeing people dressed in clown costumes and wearing face paint. The youngsters later admitted they made up the reports.
• Prince George's County Police arrested a juvenile for allegedly threatening mass violence at Parkdale High School in Riverdale. The teen set up a Twitter account with a clown theme while in class, then tweeted threats to harm anyone at Parkdale High School during the school day.
• Montgomery County Public Schools officials said several schools received vague threats via social media. The anonymous threats were posted and shared under a “clown” alias.

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.

Safety tips provided by the National Crime Prevention Council:
What Parents Can Do:

• Know where your children are at all times: Make it a rule that your children must ask permission or check in with you before going anywhere.
• Point out safe places. Show your children safe places to play, safe roads and paths to take, and safe places to go if there’s trouble.
• Teach children to trust their instincts. Explain that if they ever feel scared or uncomfortable, they should get away as fast as they can and tell an adult.
• Teach your children to be assertive. Make sure they know that it’s OK to say no to an adult and to run.
• Encourage your children to play with others. There’s safety in numbers!

What Children Can Do:

• Don’t talk to strangers.
• Don’t take anything from strangers.
• Don’t go anywhere with someone you don’t know.
• Use the buddy system, avoid walking anywhere alone.
• When seeking help, always go to a trusted adult – teacher, coach, police officer, other parent or older siblings.
• If a stranger grabs you, do everything you can to stop him or her from pulling you away. Drop to the ground, kick, hit, bite and scream. Do whatever it takes to attract the attention of others who can help you. If someone is dragging you away, scream, “this is not my dad,” or “this is not my mom.”
• Report any suspicious activity to your local school and police department.

— Patch Editors Kara Seymour, Shannon Antinori and Elizabeth Janney contributed to this story.

»Photo via NJ State Police