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Greensburg Police: 'No Reports Of Clowns In Area, Friendly Or Otherwise'

GREENSBURG (KDKA) -- In the last month, there have been dozens of reports of creepy clowns in North and South Carolina, trying to lure children into the woods.

On Sept. 19, a school in Alabama was locked down over possible clown sightings.

Only a couple of the reports have actually been confirmed, and now the supposed clown sightings have spread to our area. A Facebook post claiming multiple sightings of clowns in parts of Westmoreland County sparked a number of inquiries to Greensburg Police.

Now, officials in Westmoreland County say it's just a bunch of rumors.

The clowns reportedly harassing kids across the country are leaving some children and their parents alarmed, most recently in Pottsville, Pa.

"A clown started chasing us up here and turned around and went back to the woods," 12-year-old Brianne Hawke told WNEP. "So we thought it was gone. [It] turned around, broke a stick and threw it at us and started calling us, cursing at us and all this other stuff. It was scary."

Local police in Pottsville reported that two men dressed as clowns were spotted in the area, but there was no evidence of violence or threat of violence.

"The lady who lives over there told us that there was clowns in the neighborhood right before we came down yesterday, so we were just being careful," Nashon Key of Pottsville told WNEP.

A recent post of Facebook claimed there had been clown sightings in parts of Westmoreland County, but officials there say those reports are completely unfounded.

In fact, police released this statement:

The City of Greensburg Police Department has had no reports of any "clowns" in our area, friendly or otherwise....

Posted by City of Greensburg Police Department on Tuesday, September 20, 2016

People who have heard the clown tales say they are not amused with the hoax.

"I don't think it's funny," parent Michelle Kalback told WNEP. "It's not funny at all, you know, whether or not it's a joke or it's serious. But still why?"

The biggest fear for people who live in areas like Pottsville is that someone could get hurt, whether it's a joke or not.

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