Public humiliation via social media is the best way to catch shoplifters and criminals, a local retailer says.
A number of Rotorua businesses have taken to their social media pages recently to seek information about the identities of suspected shoplifters or burglars, with some getting responses within hours.
Some of the posts have even spurred offenders to return stolen goods, pay for damage and apologise to staff members.
Adam's Cave Hairdresser owner Adam Newson said he turned to social media after two windows of his salon were smashed last week.
The post prompted dozens of comments and it took less than half a day for a woman to confess and offer to pay for the damage, he said.
"That's the power of social media for you, you just can't beat it. Public humiliation, naming and shaming, whatever you call it, it works," he said.
Kelvin Clark, who owns Addiction Streetwear on Tutanekai St, said he'd used Facebook multiple times to post CCTV footage of shoplifters and urge them, or anyone who knew them, to come forward.
He said it had worked well, with those responsible returning the goods or getting someone to drop off the stolen goods for them. "You can ban them from the shop, you can fine them, but this way it hurts them more. They get shamed, embarrassed and they realise they just can't get away with it," he said.
"[It shows] we're not an easy target, we're not just going to sit back and watch them steal our stock, which at the end of the day is how we make a living."
The Office Cafe Restaurant owner Angela Dunseath said the business posted on Facebook about a burglary that happened there on Friday.
The offenders used a crowbar to get inside, damaging the property, before taking float money from the till and some chocolates. The culprits are yet to be found.
"I don't think people who do this sort of thing realise the repercussions of what they have done and what it means for the affected business."
Rotorua police area prevention manager Inspector Stuart Nightingale said he didn't see any disadvantages to using social media in such instances, although it was important to report the incidents to police.
"I understand that businesses want to have their property returned and social media can often help them do that, but police still want to hear about it so they can hold the people responsible accountable."
Concerns have been raised about possible legal implications around the practice. A Facebook page called Rotorua Shoplifters, which encouraged retailers to send in photos of shoplifters, was taken down in 2013.
Netsafe chief technical officer Sean Lyons said at the time anyone who was accused of shoplifting but hadn't been convicted may have had their human rights breached.