Recently, Cumberland County Public Schools went on “high alert” in response to what could have been seen as a threatening social media post of someone dressed as a clown. It might or might not — it kept being edited — have been directed toward the Cumberland area.

As our affiliate newspaper The Kenbridge-Victoria Dispatch recently reported, there have been unconfirmed reports of threatening clown sightings in parts of Lunenburg County. Social media also picked up on a possible report of something like this near Farmville on Sunday.

Whether there is actually anyone dressed up as clowns going up and down the East Coast terrorizing neighborhoods is yet to be proven. What seems more likely is a self-perpetuating urban myth with young people and/or adults spreading the myth through words and actions. There appear to be groups and/or individuals either dressing up as clowns and pulling pranks on their neighbors, or people calling 911 or their local agencies to report sightings when there haven’t been any — at least according to officials.

Whatever the case may be, this is no laughing matter. If there are people actually threatening our communities, especially our children, they must be found, arrested and prosecuted. If there are people perpetuating a myth through pranks misinterpreted as threatening, they, too, need to be found and stopped. If there are people irresponsibly calling 911, they can also be charged for tying up emergency lines and wasting police or sheriff’s resources.

Yes, we want our children and neighborhoods to be safe, but let’s not go overboard. Report things if you truly have something to report. Stop spreading false rumors over social media and wait for official word — then share appropriate warnings.

Be vigilant, always, but let officers and deputies do their jobs.