Creepy clown sightings on the rise in Victoria; police expecting more incidents before Halloween

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There have been more than 18 reports of creepy or threatening clowns across Victoria over the past two weeks, according to the state's police chief.

Key points: Police expecting more sinister clown sightings before Halloween

Victoria's chief police commissioner says events influenced by social media

Professional clowns distancing themselves from disturbing trend

In the most serious incident on October 9, an axe-wielding man with a clown mask tapped on the window of a woman's car at a fast food outlet at Moe, in the state's south-east.

Victoria Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton said the incidents were driven by social media and influenced by events in the United States, where there has been numerous sightings of people dressed in sinister clown costumes in recent weeks.

"We've had about 18 cases reported to us over the last couple of weeks — people wanting to scare other people," he told 774 ABC Melbourne's Mornings program.

"I'd just encourage people to have a rethink if they're thinking about engaging in that behaviour because it is really stupid.

"It's lemming-like behaviour just slavishly following these social media trends from the US ... people should just think for themselves."

Three people dressed as clowns were also seen standing on the side of the road at Carrum Downs, in Melbourne's south-east, on Monday.

Police said they believed two of the clowns were holding fake knives, while the other had a cap gun.

The three left before police arrived.

Police said they had responded to similar reports in the area involving schoolchildren wearing clown masks.

Police preparing for more sightings before Halloween

Commissioner Ashton said a man had been charged over the Moe incident and police were expecting pretend clown sightings to continue at least until Halloween.

"Either somebody will hurt themselves trying to flee or else some pretend clown is going to end up on the wrong side of somebody fighting rather than flighting," he said.

"Either way, it won't be a good outcome."

Professional clowns have tried to distance themselves from the disturbing new trend and have started a "Clown Lives Matter" movement on social media.

Topics: crime, law-crime-and-justice, crime-prevention, offbeat, moe-3825, melbourne-3000, vic, australia