The discovery of a blood-stained body sparked panic in a town – only for it to turn out to be a MANNEQUIN.
Shocked residents found the fake corpse tied with rope while wearing clothes stained in red paint.
The frightened locals called the police after coming across the grim find on the ground near a local school.
Cops promptly arrived on the scene and started protocols to cordon off the area.
Officers were about to call a team of forensic experts from the Legal Medical Institute when one of them nudged the body and realised it was a mannequin.
It happened in Fazenda Rio Grande, south west of São Paulo, Brazil, on 30 May.
According to the Municipal Guards, the dummy also had a cigarette in its mouth.
After realising the nature of the incident, the police informed a crowd of onlookers that it was just a bad prank.
Officers collected the mannequin and disposed of it in a suitable location.
It is unclear if the police are trying to track down the pranksters who wasted their time and resources.
One local resident said: “This is to occupy the police’s time while they’re robbing houses.”
Berenice said: “A prank in bad taste.”
Gislaine wrote: “It was next to a school, at the time of the children’s arrival.
“I think about the kids going to class and coming across this. Very sad and traumatic for some.”
Elizangela remarked: “These people really have nothing else to do.”
