Police are stepping in as ‘clown patrollers’ after a teenager was scratched on the neck by a group of clowns who chased her off a bus in Perth.
The ‘clown purge’ as it’s known began last year with ordinary people dressing up as fearsome masked figures, some even with weapons, and terrorising the nation.
Facebook page called Cop Humour Australia has decided to tackle the menaces using their own tricks – masks.
The group uploaded a picture of five fearsome police officers wearing monster masks who are ready to tackle the growing clown epidemic
The group uploaded a picture of five fearsome police officers wearing monster masks who are ready to tackle the growing clown epidemic.
‘Dear Clowns. There may be some of you, but there are more of us! We are also bigger, better and more scarier than you,’ the caption read.
‘There will be hundreds of clown hunting police out on the streets, coming to find you in the following suburbs: Balga, Midland, Mandurah, Rockingham every other suburb you can think of… Stay out at your own risk.’
![A Facebook page called Clown Purge Australia had recently warned Perth residents that the strange dressed up characters would be popping up in neighbourhoods 'very soon'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/09/17/10/44622D6400000578-4892352-image-a-28_1505639615578.jpg)
A Facebook page called Clown Purge Australia had recently warned Perth residents that the strange dressed up characters would be popping up in neighbourhoods ‘very soon’
The post has attracted 1,000 likes and numerous hilarious responses.
‘Don’t you already deal with clowns on a daily basis just not while they’re in costume?’ One funny commenter wrote.
‘Good on you, if one of those clowns jumped out in front of me I would be close to having a heart attack – thank you for trying to keep the streets safe and the idiots at bay,’ another mused.
The photo comes just a day after a young girl saw three people wearing clown masks and dark clothing coming towards her as she stepped off a bus in Baldivis on Saturday night.
![According to moderators of the Facebook page, which has wracked up 30,000 likes, 'we do not mean any harm, all of it is just for a scare and some laughs'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/09/17/10/44622D6F00000578-4892352-According_to_moderators_of_the_Facebook_page_which_has_wracked_u-a-32_1505641753076.jpg)
According to moderators of the Facebook page, which has wracked up 30,000 likes, ‘we do not mean any harm, all of it is just for a scare and some laughs’
Fearful of their presence she decided to run but one of the ‘clowns’ grabbed at her shoulder and scratched her neck.
A Facebook page called Clown Purge Australia had recently warned Perth residents that the strange dressed up characters would be popping up in neighbourhoods ‘very soon.’
Their appearance comes just a week after the release of horror flick IT, which features an evil clown called Pennywise.
!['Those who are dressing up and carrying out silly acts should think seriously about what they are doing - the distress caused to people is unnecessary and may lead to further harm,' WA police said](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/09/17/10/44622D5F00000578-4892352-_Those_who_are_dressing_up_and_carrying_out_silly_acts_should_th-a-33_1505641753283.jpg)
‘Those who are dressing up and carrying out silly acts should think seriously about what they are doing – the distress caused to people is unnecessary and may lead to further harm,’ WA police said
According to moderators of the Facebook page, which has wracked up 30,000 likes, ‘we do not mean any harm, all of it is just for a scare and some laughs.’
But WA police aren’t so sure the fun is so harmless after all.
‘Those who are dressing up and carrying out silly acts should think seriously about what they are doing – the distress caused to people is unnecessary and may lead to further harm,’ they said.
‘By participating in this craze, people may be committing criminal offences and if so they will be charged by police.’