Residents of a California neighborhood were agitated after discovering porcelain dolls outside their homes. Although initially police were stumped by the odd incidents, they have now discovered who was behind them.

The incidents began when residents of the San Clemente neighborhood of Talega in Orange County discovered the small dolls outside their homes, according to the New York Daily News. The families living in the houses where the dolls were left were spooked by the fact that they resembled their 10-year-old daughters.

"Is it a prank? Is there some specific motivation?" said Orange County Sheriff's Department Lt. Jeff Hallock, speaking with KTLA-TV. "Obviously, there's an indication by some the parents that the dolls resemble their daughters. We're talking about children here. Anything that has the potential to involve children causes us some concern."

Although the bizarre incident is not illegal, the police wanted to investigate in case there was a stalking situation. The Daily News adds that all the girls live in the same neighborhood and attend the same elementary school.

"The porcelain dolls have been collected as evidence and are being examined in an attempt to identify their origin or discover clues as to who may be responsible for leaving them," Hallock said in a statement.

"Investigators are working with community members and the impacted families in an attempt to locate any possible connection between the homes where dolls were left."

However, now the police have solved the mystery of creepy dolls. According to the Washington Post, an elderly woman confessed to police that she left the dolls "out of goodwill." The police added, "It was a kind gesture."

"Following conversation and questioning of several parents, information was learned that focused on a female adult who lived in the local community and attended church with many of the impacted families," said the police in a statement.