Moms Warn of 'Terrifying' Parking Lot Incident at Store

RIVERHEAD, NY — Social media was abuzz Wednesday as a mother reached out to warn others about a "terrifying" incident tht occurred in the parking lot of the Riverhead Target on Old Country Road.

According to one mom, who told her story on Facebook, on Tuesday, she was with her daughter at Target; they walked outside and saw a man taking photos of her car and license plate, she said. She immediately went inside and informed security, who checked surveillance tape and confirmed what she'd seen, she said.

Riverhead Town Police confirmed that officers responded Tuesday at 4:17 p.m. to a call from a woman regarding a "suspicious person" she saw while walking out of Target with her daughter. "She saw a man near her car, taking photos," police said.

Officers reviewed security footage and saw a white man wearing a gray hoodie and black sweatpants near her vehicle, appearing to take photos, police said. The man walked off, got into a tan-colored SUV and left the area, police said.

Although the woman posted on social media that she believed the incident may have been one similar to instances where men taking photos of vehicles with car seats are "eyeing you as a potential victim to be abducted with your kid," police did not confirm that theory.

Another mom also described her experience, which she said happened two weeks ago in another Riverhead store parking lot, but police could not confirm the second incident.

"This is absolutely terrifying," one local mother wrote on Facebook.

Target responded to the incident, telling Patch: "At Target, the safety and security of our guests is critically important to us. As soon as the guest made us aware, we encouraged her to reach out to law enforcement and have shared video surveillance with them. Please reach out to law enforcement with further questions."

Patch file photo.

Patch file photo.