Updated

Parents on Chicago's South Side are on edge after reports that a man dressed as a clown has tried to lure several children into his van.

The creepy clown, who has been spotted four times in the past week on the city's West and South sides, wears a wig and full face paint and carries balloons when he approaches children, MyFOXChicago.com reported.

In each case, he tries to coax kids into his vehicle, described in most cases as a white, four-door van with broken rear windows and in another instance as a brown pickup truck.

Area schools are on alert and some have sent home letters to parents telling them to warn their children not to talk to strangers.

Click here for more on this story from MyFOXChicago.com.