Cops concern assertion after Cat within the Hat-like character pictured terrorising streets

Images and videos apparently showing Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat perched atop cars and in driveways have gone viral in recent days and has caused so much trouble that the police were forced to issue a statement

Cops have been forced to speak out after terrifying images appeared to show someone dressed as Dr Seuss’ Cat in the Hat terrorising a local neighbourhood.

The creepy images emerged from Limerick in Ireland, and showed a freaky cat-like man eerily wondering the streets and standing in peoples driveways, causing alarm amongst locals and online. However, thankfully for the many creeped out locals, Gardaí officials have confirmed that the pics are not real and instead that they have been artificially generated by an unknown prankster.

The pics, which first appeared on Facebook although were rumoured at the time to have originated from image sharing site Snapchat, were accompanied by false and misleading reports that police were investigating the creepy real-life cartoon.

The hoax was not just limited to Limerick too, with fake images of the character emerging in the likes of Glanmire, Cork, in Cahir, Tipperary, in Curracloe, Wexford, and Broadford Park in Dublin, all adding to the relative hysteria online.

Remarkably, one local police department even felt the need to address the issue, releasing a strongly worded statement to assure locals that the whole thing was a load of rubbish.

A spokesperson for Wexford Garda wrote: “In an unusual turn of events we are hearing a lot about an illusive Dr Seuss character doing the rounds online, apparently causing havoc in neighbourhoods and towns across the country.

“Fortunately, we can rule out the issue, which is essentially an AI prompt that places the character into images/videos of familiar places.

“To be clear, the Cat in the Hat was not in your driveway while you were out and he is not currently hiding out in Curracloe.”

Incredibly, this is not the first time police have had to issue warnings regarding fake AI trends.

Last year, cops in the UK got involved after a viral prank involving inviting a fake “AI homeless man” into your home led to a string of police calls from people who had fallen victim to the supposedly humourless hoax.

Dorset Police revealed that they had received a call from one “extremely concerned parent” who was fooled by their daughter that there was a man in their family home while she was alone, only for the cops to discover the whole thing was an AI prank.

A spokesperson said: “: “If you receive a message and pictures similar to the above antics from friends or family, please attempt to check it isn’t a prank before dialling 999.”