SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A boy was walking to school Thursday morning on Syracuse's North Side when he saw three clowns.

The people wearing clown costumes faced the 10-year-old boy as he walked in the 1200 block of Spring Street toward Grant Middle School, said Syracuse Police Lt. Geno Turo. When they gave him a thumbs-up and started to walk toward him, the terrified boy bolted.

The boy told police he ran "as fast as he could" to get away from the clowns, Turo said. The boy then called 911.

Officers Charlie Lester and Shannon Einbeck arrived at Spring and Court streets around 7 a.m. and saw the boy hiding between two houses, Turo said. When he realized police had arrived, the boy ran to the police vehicle and told the officers he was "extremely afraid."

He wasn't the only child who has had a creepy encounter with clowns in the city.

While investigating, police spoke to other children who said they had been chased by three people dressed as clowns, Turo said. Police searched the North Side, but could did not find the suspects.

The incident mirrored a disturbing national trend. People across the country and in Upstate New York have recently reported suspicious incidents involving people dressed as clowns -- incidents where clowns have carried weapons or tried to lure children.

Syracuse police are not amused by the prank.

When found, Turo said the suspects will be charged with second-degree harassment and loitering. Both charges are violations.

"We take it very seriously when the safety of children are involved," Turo said. "We're not playing around with this."

Two of the people were wearing clown masks, and the third person wore a black cross on their white-painted face, according to initial police scanner reports. The suspects' genders and races are unknown.