Portsmouth police were called to Grant Street just after midnight after a resident reported a man in a clown costume was trying to break into his house.
The caller also told dispatchers he was armed.
Two police units responded to the scene.
Fortunately, officers determined it was a Halloween-style prank and not an actual burglary in progress.
Police said the residents were advised and everything was okay.
No arrest was listed in the information provided.
But this is the kind of “prank” that could have ended very badly.
Showing up at someone’s home after midnight in a clown costume and making them think you are trying to break in is not harmless fun. It is a fast way to scare someone into believing they are in real danger.
And when the homeowner is armed, there may not be much time for explanations.
Police calls like this force officers to respond as if a real burglary may be happening. The person inside the home may be frightened. Neighbors may be alarmed. Someone may grab a weapon. One bad second can turn a stupid joke into a shooting, an arrest, or a tragedy.
The lesson is simple.
Do not prank people by pretending to break into their homes.
The homeowner may not laugh.
The police definitely will not.