Buzz
In recent times, there has been a surge of unsettling clown sightings, mostly in the dead of night. This strange occurrence is believed to have originated in the United States before spreading to the UK and Europe.
While some view the clowns as mischievous pranksters seeking attention, others are concerned that this trend may be masking more sinister motives.
10. ‘Gags’ Strolls Through Green Bay, Wisconsin, Carrying Black Balloons
Known as 'Gags' by locals in Green Bay, this elusive clown was first spotted roaming the town during the early morning hours of August 1, 2016. The sighting was reported to WBAY, a local radio station. In addition to his eerie makeup and tattered jumpsuit, Gags also carries a cluster of black balloons.
9. Clowns in South Carolina Attempting to Lure Children
In August 2016, residents of Greenville, South Carolina, were urged to alert the authorities if they noticed any clowns lurking in the streets. Reports indicated that clowns with 'glowing noses and oversized shoes' were seen attempting to coax children into the woods, a place where numerous other clowns had been spotted.
There have also been accounts of sinister-looking clowns standing near basketball courts or simply lurking under streetlights. Those who have had encounters with these menacing figures report that they were carrying 'large amounts of cash' and even lasers.
Ryan Flood, from the Greenville County Sheriff's office, mentioned, 'Our perspective is to treat this seriously in case someone dressed as a clown is attempting to lure children away.' While no concrete evidence of any criminal activity has been found, the sheer number of reports prompted the authorities to step up patrols near the areas where these sightings were frequent.
8. North Carolina
A week after the alert issued by Greenville County Police, similar reports started emerging from across the state line in North Carolina. Dubbed the 'Tar Heel' sightings, after the state's nickname, they appeared to be concentrated around Greensboro and Winston-Salem.
The first reported sighting took place near an apartment complex, where a clown sporting red curly hair and a yellow polka-dotted shirt was seen sprinting out of the woods. A witness, armed with a machete, chased the clown back into the forest. This incident led local law enforcement to advise residents—especially those planning pranks—not to dress as clowns, fearing another similar reaction from the public.
7. Clowns Wielding Weapons in Bakersfield, California
In 2014, reports emerged of clowns appearing in and around Bakersfield, California, not just with a menacing appearance but also wielding machetes or baseball bats, creating the impression that they were prepared to use them. Bakersfield police officer Joe Grubbs mentioned that these sightings, especially those involving weapons, exploited people's 'natural phobia of clowns.'
Over the course of one week, twenty separate sightings were reported in the town. However, the only 'clown' to be arrested turned out to be a 14-year-old boy, who was caught chasing younger children while dressed in a clown outfit. He explained to the police that he was simply playing a prank he had seen online. No weapons were found on him, and after being released, the police warned against such pranks—not just for the safety of the community but also for the safety of the pranksters themselves.
6. Clown Posts Online Threat to Kidnap Children From Schools in Georgia
In September 2016, reports surfaced in LaGrange, Georgia, about clowns attempting to engage with children. One such clown allegedly issued an online threat to kidnap children from local schools.
5. Copycat Clown Sightings in the San Joaquin Valley, California
Amid a surge of crimes in the San Joaquin Valley area of California in October 2014, witnesses reported seeing individuals in clown costumes. The appearances of these clowns varied constantly, with one common thread being their sinister or unsettling nature. Some speculated that it could be a group of clowns working together to spread fear throughout the region.
An anonymous caller to KGET radio claimed responsibility for initiating the clown sightings in the area. He explained that it was simply a photography project that he and his wife were working on. Although it wasn’t his intention, he believed that other locals had been inspired to carry out copycat clown sightings.
4. Tabloid Exposes Terrifying Clown in Northampton, UK
Starting on Friday, September 13, 2013, a bizarre yet chilling clown began haunting the residents of Northampton, UK. His appearances quickly captured attention, making headlines not only in the UK but also drawing media coverage from TV stations across the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and India. A particular American couple, who were visiting the UK, even made a special trip to Northampton in hopes of encountering the infamous figure.
Those who came face-to-face with him compared his appearance to that of Pennywise, the fictional clown from Stephen King’s IT. He was often seen holding balloons, slowly waving at people passing by, and occasionally murmuring the words, “Beep! Beep!”
He stirred his growing following by dropping hints online about where he might appear next. The Daily Mirror took it upon themselves to uncover the identity of this enigmatic figure. Their investigation led them to Alex Powell, a student filmmaker, whom they tracked to his home. They then saw him emerge from his house fully dressed as the notorious clown.
3. Gijonclown
Soon after the wave of clown sightings spread across France, the Spanish city of Gijon had its very own menacing clown. Dubbed 'Gijonclown,' this unsettling figure has an Instagram following of over 5,000 fans.
Gijonclown is typically spotted in the early hours of the morning around the city. Though he has never spoken or carried weapons, people describe him as ‘sinister’ in his actions. While the sightings in France have sometimes turned violent, with crimes reported, Gijonclown seems to be enjoying his moment in the spotlight, causing no harm.
A post on his social media page states, “Afraid of clowns? But we are the friendliest, nicest, and most sociable people you’ll ever meet. You’ll find us at night.”
2. Vigilante Groups Respond To Evil Clown Pranksters Throughout France
The fear caused by the spread of evil clowns across France in late 2014 was so intense that vigilante groups were formed to deal with the situation. Numerous reports surfaced of clowns terrorizing the population, many of whom were armed with a variety of weapons—ranging from pistols to baseball bats and knives. One woman recounted being attacked by a clown wielding a fake axe, while others shared stories of being robbed by masked assailants.
Several arrests have been made by law enforcement, who took the incidents with the utmost seriousness. A 19-year-old, convicted of dressing as a clown and threatening members of the public, was sentenced to a six-month suspended jail term.
1. Clown On I192, Kentucky
The Laurel County Sheriff's office reported that they had not received any complaints about clowns in the area. However, following recent sightings in neighboring states, they are prepared to respond to any reports that might arise. Meanwhile, the Pulaski County Sheriff's office had received reports of three individuals dressed in clown costumes who were deemed 'suspicious.'
+Recommended Reading
If you have coulrophobia, you might want to skip these intriguing articles from our archives:
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