Residents of an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina are on edge following a series of creepy clown sightings in the area.
A letter from the property management company that oversees the site cautioned residents that they have received several complains about "a clown or a person dressed in clown clothing."
Adding another nightmarish layer to the already strange spate of sightings is that the clown has allegedly been trying to lure children into the nearby woods!
While one might suspect that the unnerving clown sightings might merely be the product of a prankster, parents at the complex are advised to keep a close on their kids until the weirdness subsides.
One resident of the apartments conceded that she initially thought her son had imagined having a clown sighting, but became convinced after more and more children told her about the haunting harlequin.
She explained to TV station WHNS, "I had about 30 kids come up to me and say, 'Did you see the clown in the woods?'"
According to authorities investigating the case, the suspicious clown reportedly showed the children large amounts of money in an attempt to entice them into entering the woods.
Complicating the matter seems to be confusion over whether there is only one suspect or a cadre of clowns, as witnesses report different descriptions of the harlequin as well as seeing multiple figures.
And, as if this story isn't creepy enough, children told police that the clowns allegedly live in a remote home behind the apartment complex that can only be reached by walking along a trail.
A subsequent stop at the house confirmed that it is real, but nary a clown could be found.
Whether the call to action will cause the appearances to cease remains to be seen, but it may be in the clowns' best interest to put an end to their antics as police already have received one call about someone shooting at the harlequins!
With that in mind, it's probably time for the clowns to pile into their car in an amusing fashion and quickly get out of town.
Believe it or not, these disturbing sightings are not a particularly unique phenomenon as 'phantom clowns' have been reported in waves at various times throughout America over the years.
Coast Insiders can check out cryptozoologist Loren Coleman's 4/23/2007 appearance on the program where he discussed the 'phantom clown' phenomenon.
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Source: WHNS Fox Carolina