Cat in the Hat creep chased down teenage girl as cops issue threat over concerning prank

A creep dressed as the Cat in the Hat allegedly chased a teenage girl through a Canadian neighborhood, as police warn of a concerning trend involving the Dr.Seuss character.The teen was walking near the 2000 block of Shamrock Drive in West Kelowna, British Columbia, around 9 p.m.

Aug.24 when she was pursued by a figure resembling the children’s character, Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Tuesday.The girl, who was not identified, made it home safely.Haunting surveillance footage captured the suspect, dressed in a full Cat in the Hat costume complete with the beloved Dr.

Seuss character’s trademark red-and-white striped hat and gloves.“Regardless of whether the individual intended the behavior as a joke, following a young person and causing them to fear for their safety is extremely concerning,” Cpl.Devon Gerrits of the West Kelowna Royal Canadian Mounted Police said.“People should understand that behaviour intended as a prank can have serious consequences when it causes another person to reasonably fear for their safety,” Gerrits added.While wearing a costume isn’t a crime, following or pursuing someone in a way that makes them fear for their safety could amount to criminal harassment, police said.Police are asking residents to turn over any doorbell, security or dashcam footage captured in the area around the time of the incident that could help identify the suspect.The bizarre encounter comes amid a separate online scare involving AI-generated videos of the Cat in the Hat that has raised alarms among schools and law enforcement agencies across the US.The clips typically depict a figure in the character’s signature costume making ominous or threatening statements aimed at specific schools or communities, according to Fox News.Police departments from Georgia to Virginia have issued warnings about the trend, urging parents and students to take the videos seriously and report any credible threats.The online prank has also spilled into the real worl...