Creepy clown sightings spread to Australia

The creepy clown phenomena that has terrified residents across the United States has now landed on Australian shores with sightings reported by several people in Western Australia (WA) over the weekend.

News Corp reported on Monday that a man dressed as a clown had allegedly chased a group of teenage girls to a West Australian police station on Saturday night.

The 19-year-old man had allegedly scared the group of girls near a shopping centre in Northam, northeast of Perth, and chased them for about 700 metres before arriving to a police station.

He has been charged with disorderly behaviour and possession of a disguise, which is only unlawful if it is used to conceal a person's identity while committing an offence.

In another Perth incident, a woman reported hitting a pedestrian dressed as a clown on Tonkin Highway in Champion Lakes about midnight on Sunday.

But the person ran into nearby bushland and could not be found despite a search by the air wing and canine units.

A WA police spokesman said other incidents involving clowns were reported on Sunday but none were found when officers visited the areas.

"It is important to remember that dressing as a clown isn't against the law, however should a person engage in activity that is criminal, anti-social or threatening toward other people, police will investigate," he said.

The clown craze began with reports of clowns trying to lure children into woods in the U.S. state of South Carolina, which led to clown groups sprouting across America and mass clown hunts in other areas.

The spooky fad spread to Australia recently, with police in Victoria and South Australia among others issuing warnings against it.

There is also Facebook pages dedicated to the trend in WA, including Perth Clown Watch, which claims clowns have been spotted with chainsaws, hammers, machetes and other weapons, but police have not been able to verify the incidents. Endit