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Police investigate after woman's post about 'suspicious activity' at Northland Target goes viral

Posted at 12:32 PM, Apr 20, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-21 16:29:51-04

A Facebook post about a suspicious man hovering around customers in a Northland Target has created concern among thousands.  

According to the post made by Heather Ridder McWilliams, a man followed a woman and her two children around the Target off 152 Highway near Liberty, Missouri, in what she believed to be a failed attempt at kidnapping or human trafficking.

The woman being followed approached McWilliams in the checkout line and they stayed in line together while the man watched in the nearby, McWilliams said in the post.

McWilliams said she asked store security escort them out when they noticed another man in a black car apparently waiting for the other man.

"Please keep your babies/kids close to you while shopping," McWilliams said in the post. "I personally like to live in denial about human trafficking, but it is very real and happening all over the U.S."

McWilliams later posted an update saying Target managers reviewed the license plate from surveillance cameras and sent the man's picture to the Kansas City Police Department.

Target sent 41 Action News the following statement: 

At Target, our guests are at the center of everything we do and our commitment to creating a safe and secure shopping environment in our stores is unwavering. As part of this commitment to safety, we have robust procedures, policies and trainings in place to ensure that our stores are safe places to shop and work.

We are aware of this situation and are partnering with local law enforcement. Please contact law enforcement with further questions.

The post was published on Wednesday and has received more than 6,000 shares in less than 24 hours.

Read the full post below:

The Kansas City Police Department posted a response to the viral post own their Facebook page.

Police said they could not locate the person described, but are working with Target management to review security footage.

Police also said one of the men is believed to have been involved in thefts.

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