SC - Clowns spotted trying to lure kids into South Carolina woods

[Limecat]

Ok back in 1984 I lived in Vegas. And yes, what happens there stays there, but I will share this story.

My cousin and I worked for one of the hotels on the strip. We did promotional things, went out to the street with promos to get people to come into the casinos. Our boss was a retired detective who happened to weigh about 400 lbs and had had a local kids show as Jinx the clown.

I was 21 and at that point in my life had not yet come to recognize clowns as the nightmare mongers they are. I liked my boss and he treated us well. I also never had to witness him in his clown get up.

That being said, there were...others. Other...clowns. Apparently Jinx was fairly well known in the clowning world. But then again, a 400 lb clown is a hard thing to forget.

So these...other..clowns would sometimes come to see my boss, rather like a clown pilgrimage to clown Mecca. They usually had literally no sense of humor which I found both amusing and alarming. And they were apparently up in clown arms about a commercial playing around this time for the Jack In The Box restaurant chain. It was their gimmick that when you went to the drive through you gave your order by speaking into a clown's head. It seems the restaurant chain had decided the gimmick was getting old so the new commercials showed them blowing up the clown head speakers.

Clowns took this personally. EXTREMELY personally. They were angry. Very angry. Seriously, in all sincerity, very angry.

I have seen the dark side of clowns, my friends. It's not pretty.


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[HoneyWest]

The WP article! The gift that keeps on giving...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2016/08/30/lurking-clowns-the-most-terrifying-story-of-the-year/?utm_term=.41c222aeb829


“There has been several conversation (sic) and a lot of complaints to the office regarding a clown or person dressed in clown clothing taking children or trying to lure children in the woods,” the letter reads. It reminded residents that the complex has a 10 p.m. curfew.

A clown or person dressed in clown clothing. A clown OR person dressed in clown clothing.

wtf do they think a clown is?? :thinking:

 

[charminglane]

Clowns are born that way!
Clothes don't make the clown!

 

[LaborDayRN]

The WP article! The gift that keeps on giving...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2016/08/30/lurking-clowns-the-most-terrifying-story-of-the-year/?utm_term=.41c222aeb829


“There has been several conversation (sic) and a lot of complaints to the office regarding a clown or person dressed in clown clothing taking children or trying to lure children in the woods,” the letter reads. It reminded residents that the complex has a 10 p.m. curfew.

A clown or person dressed in clown clothing. A clown OR person dressed in clown clothing.

wtf do they think a clown is?? :thinking:

:silly:

 

[Armchair-reader]

"a clown pilgrimage to clown Mecca" That has got to be the most terrifying yet hilarious term I've ever heard. What would you call it when someone laughs in fear? I did that, just now.

 

[dotr]

http://myfox8.com/2016/09/06/third-clown-sighting-this-time-in-greensboro/
[h=1]Third clown sighting in Piedmont Triad, this time in Guilford County[/h] September 6, 2016,

GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. -- Greensboro Police on Tuesday morning received a call about another clown sighting in the Piedmont Triad.

The sighting occurred at The Park at Oakridge apartments off Old Oak Ridge Road not far from Interstate 73. A man said he saw a clown near the wooded area behind the complex at about 10 a.m.
Chris Bass told FOX8 he lives at the complex with his wife and two children. He was on his balcony when he spotted a man in a white mask, red curly hair, yellow dotted shirt, blue clown pants and clown shoes in the wooded area. Bass tried to chase the clown but could not catch him. He called his actions his "fatherly instinct."

Greensboro police encourage parents to use the latest clown sighting as an opportunity to talk with their children about strangers and how to avoid a potentially dangerous situation. Parents should tell children never go anywhere with a stranger, even if it sounds like fun. Instead, children should run away and scream if someone follows them or tries to entice them to go to another location

 

[dotr]

Police say they encourage people to report suspicious behavior, but say you shouldn't confront someone who may be acting in an unusual manner. Police say although it isn't against the law to dress as a clown, officials are discouraging this "copycat" behavior that has parents on edge.

http://www.wfmynews2.com/news/local/clown-sighting-near-greensboro-apartment-complex/314470561

 

[Caffeine]

We've had a few cases of face eating in Florida, now clowns in the Carolinas. I think we might need zombie and clown response units created to stop this madness. [emoji39]

 

[JohnPaul]

I think you can arrest people for disguising their appearance in some places.

not likely,

all the clown would have to say is its for religious purposes,

if that was the case.....why arn't all these people arrested?........

 

[charminglane]

I wonder if all the shark sightings and biting so far this summer are just undelivered Candygrams?

 

[dotr]

We've had a few cases of face eating in Florida, now clowns in the Carolinas. I think we might need zombie and clown response units created to stop this madness. [emoji39]

The response units should wear clown shoes though, they seem to help them run away very quickly!
https://www.google.ca/search?q=clow...cop+wearing+clown+shoes&imgrc=2GwAsqDgdxsOJM:

 

[CoverMeCagney]

We've had a few cases of face eating in Florida, now clowns in the Carolinas. I think we might need zombie and clown response units created to stop this madness. [emoji39]

I'm definitely up for being in the clown response unit, what an awesome job! I'd need a proper clown car though.

:clown:

 

[Caffeine]

I guess to keep in the spirit of things the clown response unit would have to battle with these evil clowns with bottles of seltzer water, pies to the face, and gigantic nets to capture them.

I suppose I'll have to start making decals and embroidered patches now...

 

[CoverMeCagney]

I guess to keep in the spirit of things the clown response unit would have to battle with these evil clowns with bottles of seltzer water, pies to the face, and gigantic nets to capture them.

I suppose I'll have to start making decals and embroidered patches now...

I think if we just leave banana skins on the floor they'll all just slip over. Job done.

(Clown Cags - CRU Tactical Team)

 

[mommylicious]

I think if we just leave banana skins on the floor they'll all just slip over. Job done.

(Clown Cags - CRU Tactical Team)

That has Netflix series written all over it!

 

[bluesneakers]

I think you can arrest people for disguising their appearance in some places. I think I read the town this started in has laws against that. Long weekend and busy, I may be mistaken.

West Virginia Code

§61-6-22. Wearing masks, hoods or face coverings.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person, whether in a motor vehicle or otherwise, while wearing any mask, hood or device whereby any portion of the face is so covered as to conceal the identity of the wearer, may:

(1) Come into or appear upon any walk, alley, street, road, highway or other thoroughfare dedicated to public use;

(2) Come into or appear in any trading area, concourse, waiting room, lobby or foyer open to, used by or frequented by the general public;

(3) Come into or appear upon or within any of the grounds or buildings owned, leased, maintained or operated by the state or any political subdivision thereof;

(4) Ask, request, or demand entrance or admission to the premises, enclosure, dwelling or place of business of any other person within this state; or

(5) Attend or participate in any meeting upon private property of another unless written permission for such meeting has first been obtained from the owner or occupant thereof.

(c) Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned in the county jail not more than one year, or both fined and imprisoned.

There are a few exemptions like holiday costumes, kids under the age of 16, winter sports, theatre, etc.

 

[bluesneakers]

I've read a few comments about the clowns having something to do with "It" but that's still filming not far from me so I don't think their appearance and the movie's release have anything to do with each other.

Also - above comment I know these clowns are in South Carolina not West Virginia. I was just providing an example and I always thought it was a rumour until I looked it up tonight.

 

[Caffeine]

Also - above comment I know these clowns are in South Carolina not West Virginia. I was just providing an example and I always thought it was a rumour until I looked it up tonight.

The clowns have moved to North Carolina now...West Virginia is probably next unless we swiftly form an elite counterstrike clown response unit. [emoji12]

Right now I'm trying to score as many gag hand zappers as I can to put a stop to this. Also banana peels and cream pies should do the trick too.

 

[Madeleine74]

I know I didn't say ban any of those things...but it's my prerogative to feel creeped out by that. I am aways skeptical of adult men, who use costumes and play to befriend children. I don't care if it's not PC. That is definitely a way predators could lure a child in. That's not to say all, most or even any have any ill intents, most are probably great people who simply love putting a smile on a child's face, but it definitely raises my alert level.

How often do you come across adult men, wearing costumes, and befriending children? Is this a thing now?

The only times I can remember having seen adult men wearing costumes and befriending kids was:

- Disney World
- Halloween (i.e. parents of the kids who were also in costume)
- Sesame Street
- Muppets
- Visitors in costume to sick kids in hospitals
- The circus

Predators have access to the kids they assault, usually know the kid, and are not known to be in costume. Their familiarity with the child through the family is the access.

 

[Wyle_E_Coyote]

How often do you come across adult men, wearing costumes, and befriending children? Is this a thing now?

The only times I can remember having seen adult men wearing costumes and befriending kids was:

- Disney World
- Halloween (i.e. parents of the kids who were also in costume)
- Sesame Street
- Muppets
- Visitors in costume to sick kids in hospitals
- The circus

Predators have access to the kids they assault, usually know the kid, and are not known to be in costume. Their familiarity with the child through the family is the access.

Michael Jackson dressed funny... does that count?

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