Clown masks are displayed at the Fantasy Costumes HDQ. store Oct 17, 2003 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo : Tim Boyle/Getty Images)
A new upsurge of clown sightings across the United States has triggered fears of an ominous trend on the rise within the country. Petrified citizens have testified of having being terrorized by people dressed up in scary costumes in over ten states since August.
According to CBC News, the creepy crown craze reached a wild pitch last month, with over a dozen people getting arrested either for participating in the ominous stunt or for making false reports. Some of the most shared incidences were those of a woman who reported to have been assailed along with other tormenting accounts of children being decoyed to the woods by clowns.
In South Carolina, police have already issued a stack warning to clowns, pointing out that such stunts are illegal and dangerous. The message came right after parents gave accounts of clowns seen with green lasers, who children had earlier described to have large sums of cash, according to Fox Carolina.
One vigilante reportedly chased one clown with a machete, although what happened after that is a mystery. The police have since encouraged the public to be on the lookout and take photographs when they encounter such clowns.
Officers have also increased their patrols, especially in areas where the clown sightings occurred. Statements from the police department have indicated that it is stepping up crime prevention in specific apartment complexes and neighborhoods as well.
Similar claims of clown sightings have been made in North Carolina, with the police receiving complaints of clowns giving children treats. One of them was spotted outside an elementary school in Winston-Salem.
Some clown sightings have been documented as fatal with victims even losing their lives. In Pennsylvania, for example, 16-year-old Christian Torres lost his life when a clown stabbed him to death. Detectives are still tracking down the attacker although no clues have been found.
Yet, in some cases, the clown sightings have been harmless. Wisconsin residents lately complained of a clown walking around in Green Bay carrying a handful of black balloons. In another case, a video showing a clown waving at a woman, was viewed by millions in Facebook, sparking hysteria.
Countless clown sightings have left the public musing whether they are linked to a marketing ploy for the Stephen King horror movie or just mere pranks. Reports of assaults and harassment, however, have shown otherwise, warning U.S. communities to be on the lookout.
Here is video showing several clown sightings:
