Police investigate man photographing children outside Wal-Mart

A shopper told managers of the Wal-Mart at 7701 Raeford Road that a man driving through the store parking lot Monday afternoon was taking pictures of children.

Managers notified police about the suspicious car, which had left by the time officers arrived. Someone got the car's tag number before it left, and police said they traced it to car belonging to a registered sex offender.

Police declined to identify the car's owner and said they don't know whether the offender was the man seen in the parking lot. They also declined to say whether they had located the car or have a suspect.

The shopper who reported the car didn't leave a name with Wal-Mart managers, and police said they don't know if anyone else  saw the man taking pictures.

Shopper Meaghan Wilson, who regularly brings her 7-month-old son, Jayden, to the store, said the incident sends a chill through her.

"Generally, I do (feel safe at Wal-Mart), but hearing stuff like this makes me feel very uncomfortable and it makes me want to leave my child at home with his father," Wilson said. "It angers me. At the same time, I'm appreciative to know that there are people looking out so that we'll know these things."