These jokers are no joke: How creepy clowns are terrorising America's kids

Last week in Athens, Georgia, an 11-year-old was arrested for taking a knife to her school. The young girl informed authorities that the knife was to protect her and her family, fearing stories she had heard of clowns jumping out of the woods and attacking children.

A week prior to the incident, a woman called 911 saying she and her children were terrorised by group of clowns brandishing fake knives - they sprang out of bushes and abandoned houses and chased them from a bus stop.

seriously if i see this damn clown that's it for me im gonna have a heart attack im terrified of clowns IM NOT DYINGautumn smith (@autumnnsmithh0) September 8, 2016

In Georgia's neighbour Tennessee, a school in the Oak Ridge area went into a 'soft lockdown' of 15 minutes this week, after two students reported seeing a clown in the woods near the school.

Southeast America is currently under the grip of a clown-menace like no other.

Sightings, sightings, everywhere

The creepy clown problem began in South Carolina on August 20, when a resident of an apartment complex in Greenwood County reported that a clown was trying to lure children into the woods with large amounts of money. No police report was filed as the caller refused to identify self.

Later, another woman in the area reported that the same day her child saw several clowns whispering, 'making strange noises' and waving green laser lights in the woods. She claimed her elder son heard chains and banging on their front door that night.

Various other women too approached local police, saying their children reported seeing clowns in the woods nearby. "At first, I thought he was telling a fib and I said, 'Go in the house and we'll talk about this again,' because I didn't want it all over the place," Arnold said. "And then the next day, there was like 30 kids that came up to me and said, 'Ms Donna, Ms Donna, there's clowns in the woods.' My child was with me, so I knew they had to see something. There was more than one kid that seen them, so I feel confident that he was telling the truth," a mother told local newscaster WYFF.

Ultimately, the apartment complex around which all these sightings were reported (within a span of two days), enforced a 10 pm deadline to ensure children's safety.

In another South Carolina town, a 12-year-old told police he saw two clowns in his garden - one with red hair and the other with a white mask and body suit. According to a report by FOX Carolina, the kid claimed a person was taking photographs of children.

Early this month, a 50-year-old woman told police that four men dressed as clowns followed her home in a black car, one of whom waved at her before driving off.

What began in SC, has now spread across various neighbouring states, with sightings being reported from North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Ohio.

This clown thing is NOT a joke, spread awareness!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/4Nh2VOQMLyHala ?? (@makeyaman_hala) September 7, 2016

In North Carolina, two children reported seeing a clown trying to lure kids into the woods with treats in the in Winston-Salem area, while one adult reported hearing the clown. Later that week, another woman said a male clown wielding a machete tried to lure her into the woods.

More than six clown sightings were reported within the week.

In Alabama, terror spread over Facebook as fake profiles were created under names like Flomo Klown, Shoota Cllown, Bingerman Clownferd and ClappyAndslappy DaClown. These profiles were used to threaten schools, and actually led to multiple schools shutting down.

Fake 'clown' profiles created on Facebook to threaten schools. (Source: Twitter)

Promotional strategy?

In popular culture, clowns are mostly represented as menacing figures - be it the Stephen King's It (horror) or the Joker in the Batman series (thriller). But a coulrophobic's worst nightmare would be serial killer John Wayne Gacy, who worked part time as a clown.

The only clown remembered in positive light is probably McDonald's Ronald.

It's not a surprise then, that some people are speculating that the sightings could be a hoax or a marketing strategy. Some say this could be an attempt by fans to promote the 2017 movie release of Stephen King's It, while a local TV station suggests this could be marketing ploy for Rob Zombie's upcoming film about a group of kidnapped carnival workers.

The backlash

Clowns have traditionally been seen as source of entertainment and calming humour, especially for children. But the masked, colourful jesters are also known to have an unnerving effect on many people. A full-blown fear of clowns, known as coulrophobia, is relatively rare.

But when the entertainers turn into threats, a backlash can be expected.

In North Carolina, a resident decided to take matters into his hands with a machete, as he chased down a person dressed as a clown, who eventually disappeared into the woods.

In South Carolina, police received calls saying kids chased down two clowns through their apartment complex, who ran to a wooden fence and broke through it to get away. Eye-witnesses claimed one clown was waiting in a car for the other two, who jumped in and took off.

Authorities have even received reports of gunshots being fired at clowns in Georgia.

The greater victims of these sightings have been professional clowns, who're worried their businesses will take a hit. Others worry for their safety, like some performers in Georgia who have decided to inform police of their movements whenever in costume.

A South Carolina group has already taken a hit, after images of their performers were shared widely on social media in a menacing context.

THP says watch for clowns trying to lure children in to the woods. They are possibly predators. Call 911 or *847 pic.twitter.com/7AaEOj4WuETN Highway Patrol (@TNHighwayPatrol) September 24, 2016

The photo of the "clowns" was not a photo taken in Tennessee. This was a photo circulated throughout social... https://t.co/TMrskBxfPtTN Dept. of Safety (@TNDeptofSafety) September 25, 2016

So what do the authorities do?

Up to this point, officials have not uncovered any evidence - "not even a prankster in a clown suit," according to an AP report.

The greatest challenge is the lack of substantial proof.

In South Carolina, for example, until the beginning of this month, investigators failed to confirm even a single clown-sighting despite eight reports. This is despite a state law prohibiting anyone over age 18 from dressing up as a clown.

Further, clowns are mostly reported by children, with no additional video or photo proofs. In one case in North Carolina, the complainant woman snapped a photo of the clown she saw, but it was too dark to make out.

In many cases, people who report clown sightings even refuse to give their names, making any kind of follow-up impossible.

It also doesn't help that such sightings make great fodder for social media. As the photos go viral, more pranksters come out for fun.

FAKE: deputies say this viral pic of a clown in the woods was NOT taken near a Cleveland County High School @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/lL4zFdf4bG Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) September 7, 2016

In Alabama, officials issued warnings saying people involved in creepy clown hoaxes could be prosecuted.

Seven people, including two adults and five juveniles, face felony charges of making a terrorist threat in the state. One juvenile faces a child in need of supervision charge. And the other, also a juvenile, faces a misdemeanor harassing communications charge from an incident in Rainbow City, according to a report by AL.com

WSPD has investigated all reported clown sightings. At this time, none of the sightings can be substantiated. Call 773-7700 w/ info. .51 cityofwspolice (@cityofwspolice) September 9, 2016

David Wayne Armstrong was arrested on 9/9 & charged with filing false police report related to a clown sighting. 51 pic.twitter.com/lTIG2RxFxy cityofwspolice (@cityofwspolice) September 9, 2016

Authorities are concerned that some cases involve 'copycat' clowns trying to imitate the South Carolina sightings. But their only option to tackle the situation, is to increase the number of officers on patrol.

As they struggle to find even a strand of blue or red hair, police are urging parents to talk to their children about avoiding dangerous situations when dealing with strangers in public. "Parents should tell children never go anywhere with a stranger, even if it sounds like fun."