Local biz owners using social media shaming to solve crimes
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/05/2015 (4052 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Frustrated with a growing number of shopliftings and thefts, business owners are turning to a social media technique — shaming.
Dairy Queen owner Laird Lidster recently turned to social media to try to identify a man and woman who stole a Brandon Wheat Kings flag from outside his business.
He wouldn’t trouble police with such a small matter, monetarily speaking. In fact, he wouldn’t press charges if they’re identified — being exposed on social media would be enough.
“To be identified would be the most embarrassing part of their day, and I’m sure that would be more than enough … Let the public be the court, the judge and the jury on that one,” Lidster said.
The Brandon Wheat Kings had given flags to Dairy Queen and other businesses so they could show support for the team during its playoff push.
Lidster — a big Wheat Kings fan — used a hockey stick, tape and a plastic tie strap to hang the flag on the pole of his sign outside his business at the corner of 18th Street and Park Avenue.
He kept it low, so it would be easy for his customers to see and enjoy.
But on Tuesday, around 11:40 p.m., a man and woman stole the flag.
Lidster’s wife noticed it was missing on Wednesday, and he reviewed the surveillance footage from outside his business.
It shows the man and woman walking past the flag, then turning to cut and pull the flag from the post and walk away with it.
Lidster’s son and a group of his friends viewed the footage, too, and had an idea — post it to social media and send it to police.
Lidster didn’t contact police. However, on Wednesday, he posted still images of the couple on Twitter and Facebook and asked for help identifying them.
That night, his phone wouldn’t stop ringing from retweets and shares.
As of Saturday, the images had been retweeted 60 times and favourited 25 times. They’d been shared on Facebook 748 times.
On Friday, Lidster followed up by posting a clip of the video to YouTube and linking to it in a tweet.
On the bright side, he said he’s pleased by the support he has received, most notably at Friday’s Wheat Kings game.
“Twenty to 30 times I was stopped and asked about it,” Lidster said.
So far, nobody’s managed to identify the flag thieves. Lidster says he wouldn’t press charges if they’re ID’d, he just wants an admission, the flag returned and an apology.
But, even if that doesn’t happen, he says his social media tactic has done its job. The thieves are probably embarrassed, and it may discourage others from targeting other businesses.
The Wheat Kings have since provided Lidster with a new flag to fly. He said he’s reinforced it with a steel strap.
He may turn again to social media if he’s targeted by crime, he said.
Lidster wasn’t the only business person to turn to social media this week.
Smitty’s at Shoppers Mall posted a photo on Facebook of two women suspected of being dine-and-dashers who amassed a $112 bill in alcohol and food before taking off.
The business received several messages identifying the women who were given until 3 p.m. on Friday to pay up or police would be called.
The matter was resolved, it appears.
“We have been overwhelmed with support the last few days. Please know that now, our situation is between those involved, and no others. Thank you for your understanding,” stated a post made on Saturday to the Facebook page.
Smitten Adult Boutique has posted images of shoplifters on Facebook numerous times in the past.
Brandon Police Service Sgt. Kevin McLean said the force supports the use of social media by businesses to identify suspects — but then they should call police.
The force doesn’t endorse the use of police as a scare tactic by threatening to call them if a bill isn’t paid.
“We would appreciate if they called us when it happened, let us do the investigation,” McLean said.
He also agreed that businesses should be cautious against “convicting” suspects in social media posts by asserting that they’re “thieves” or guilty of a crime.
They may want to consult a lawyer for proper wording in their posts to avoid a civil suit in the event of a mistake.
“It’s something that is probably a good idea, but you’ve got to do it right,” McLean said.
» ihitchen@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @IanHitchen