A group calling themselves 'SD Killa Clowns' are wanted by police in California for vandalising several school campuses in the South Bay area, NBC San Diego reports.
Social media posts from the gang show them dressed in full clown costumes, mucking about on Montgomery High School's campus and at multiple other South Bay schools.
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But now Chula Vista police are clamping down on their antics, saying their graffitti - which has often included monikers and the group's self-titled name - was so damaging to property that they're facing a felony vandalism charge.
CVPD have said investigators have a good idea of who the suspects are, and have criminal evidence of their involvement in the vandalism.
Andrea Welch, a parent of a student at Hilltop High School, referred to the youngsters' actions as 'messed up'.
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She said: "They should respect the schools."
Hilltop High sophomore Julio Ceballos also said: "Tell them to stop because it's just wrong. You're just ruining other people's work it's not helping the school or anything."
Sophomore Gabrina Locke added: "There really is no point because funding and the schools are going to have to fix it and there's going to be less activities and stuff like that."
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Police said the clown group had crashed a custodial gold cart, while at Montgomery High school pranksters also vandalised the school's mascot.
A spokesperson for the Sweetwater Union High School District told NBC 7 that the district is concerned about the safety of the community.
The spokesperson said the district is also working with police to get things resolved.
NBC has also reached out to the 'SD Killa Clowns' group to hear the story from their side, and said an alleged member of the group who calls himself 'Shady the Clown' texted the news outlet.
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He said: "We don't completely condone defacing any school property. Spray painting is not what we do as a group. We just take pictures also leave something behind like a pumpkin and try to bring back the Halloween spirit in S.D."
So-called 'killer clowns' are the trend that just keeps on giving, unfortunately - although it's probably worth noting the title is something of a misnomer, as they're just a bunch of harmless idiots intent on freaking everyone out and wreaking havoc.
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It's a craze that also reached the UK last year, with Assistant Chief Constable Catherine Hankinson of Greater Manchester Police sharing some firm advice with The Sun Online at the time: "If you do see any individuals dressed as clowns, you should try and keep calm and report the incident to authorities."
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/SDKillaClowns