With all the sightings of creepy clowns in the region, one Central New York town is asking kids to avoid the clown costumes this Halloween.

The Phoenix Police Department', near Syracuse says high school kids and adults have expressed fears over the clown controversy.  "There are bad people who will use this to their advantage to try and hurt people. I am asking that this year that people refrain from dressing up like clowns for Halloween," the department wrote on their Facebook page. "Really not sure how we have gotten to this point, but I will tell you that if someone hides behind a clown costume with the intent to cause fear, alarm, or commit a crime- we won't be clowning around when they are apprehended. Let's get back to being decent human beings. On a side note- these clowns are giving real clowns a bad rap."

Other Upstate New York police departments, including Syracuse, Binghamton and Saratoga Springs have also reported creepy clown calls.


MORE: Police Respond to Clowns on Utica College Campus

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