Target Removes Clown Masks From Shelves Amid Creepy Pre-Halloween Scares

Target is pulling all of its clown masks from stores and its website amid a rash of creepy clown-related sightings and incidents across the country.

“Given the current environment, we have made the decision to remove a variety of clown masks from our assortment, both in stores and online,” company spokesman Joshua Thomas said in a statement.

On Sunday evening, there were still five clown masks available for purchase on Target.com, according to the Star Tribune. But come Monday, not one clown mask was listed online.

The news comes just a week after costume retailer Halloween Express told TheWrap that its online clown mask sales have risen approximately 300 percent over last year, with “evil” or “scary” clown masks gaining traction over last year.

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The public has been inundated with media reports of “creepy” clown sightings and incidents involving people dressed as creepy clowns in recent weeks, though some reports have turned out to be hoaxes.

As recently as last week, a handful of clown-related incidents were reported, including an incident in North Carolina in which a hatchet-wielding man in clown makeup was arrested for trespassing on a store’s property.

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In September, police responded to a report of a clown trying to lure kids into the woods with “treats” in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.