However, many social media users have joked about the bizarre pictures

Locals have expressed fear over creepy figure lurking in their community

There are suggestions this could be poisoned meat to sicken or kill dogs

Some residents say person has been dropping raw meat on playgrounds

They were dressed in dark cloak, but it was unclear what they were doing

A cloaked figure is apparently dropping raw meat on playgrounds in a North Carolina community.

The 'creepy', pale figure has sparked fear among locals after it was reportedly caught on camera lurking outside an apartment complex off Hudson Boulevard in Gastonia dressed in a dark cloak.

It is not clear what the person - who could be a character from a horror film or Star Wars - was doing outside the apartment building, nor why they were donning the floor-length, hooded attire.

Their identity and gender are also unknown.

Mysterious: This 'creepy', pale figure has sparked fear among locals after it was caught on camera standing outside an apartment complex off Hudson Boulevard in Gastonia, North Carolina, dressed in a dark cloak

Staying hidden: It is not clear what the person (above) - who could be a character from a horror film or Star Wars - was doing outside the apartment building, nor why they were donning the floor-length, hooded attire

Uneasy: One Twitter user, Lynn Chandler Willis, referred to the photos of the cloaked figure as 'too creepy'

Some social media users have suggested that the mysterious figure may have been dropping poisoned meat on playgrounds across the community to sicken - and potentially kill - dogs.

Others, however, have made a joke out of the situation.

Twitter user Flannery O'Conner ‏wrote: 'It's one of those person in a cloak walking around dropping raw meat kind of days,' while Sharon Gilbert remarked: 'Not something you see every day.'

A woman called Jana tweeted: 'This is so creepy and great. I hope they never find out what it was.'

And in reference to the act of dropping meat on playgrounds, one user joked: 'Who isn't!'

But many residents did not see the funny side of the photos of the cloaked figure, which were apparently captured through a set of blinds at Gastonia's Hudson Woods apartment complex.

Another Twitter user agreed that the reports of the person dropping meat in playgrounds was 'kinda creepy'

'They give us a bad name': Some users, however, made a joke out of the situation, including Sam Walt Jones

Making jokes: Twitter user Flannery O'Conner (above) ‏wrote: 'It's one of those person in a cloak walking around dropping raw meat kind of days,' while Sharon Gilbert remarked: 'Not something you see every day

'I see why it could be easy to make a joke out of it, but this is serious,' local Brooke Conrad said. 'We live in a world today where you don't know what's going on and you don't know people.'

Resident Kelsie Cooper added on Facebook: 'This is a serious thing that needs to be addressed.'

The photos were circulated online earlier this month and first reported on by the Gaston Gazette.

Some residents told the Gazette they the figure had been dropping meat near a local playground.

One said the person had left a bag of raw meat close to the apartment complex two weeks ago.

'Location': The photos of the cloaked figure were apparently captured through a set of blinds at Gastonia's Hudson Woods apartment complex (pictured). However, police said the location has not yet been confirmed

However, these claims have not been confirmed by officials. Police said they could not yet tell whether the figure was playing a 'bogus prank', or if something more sinister was going on.

They added that it is not confirmed the pictures were snapped at Hudson Woods.

On Reddit, some users suggested the figure was carrying out a Pagan ritual.

But one wrote: 'I've heard (probably urban myth) of people dropping poisoned meat around for dogs to gobble up. I'd think if you do that you might want a more low profile look though.'

It is unclear exactly when the photos of the figure were captured.