Spar putting pictures of "shoplifters" on the door.

jayteecork · 09-08-2009 09:32PM #1

As you walk into my local Spar, there are pictures of persons leaving the premises, recorded on the store security cameras.

These are pictures of people of people Spar deemed to have been shoplifting and have posted their pictures in the hope of disgracing them i guess.

While I don't think this is a bad idea per se, I'm just wondering about the legaility of the whole idea.
I mean, what happened to being innocent until proven guilty?

It's pretty serious posting someone's picture on a shopfront claiming them to be a thief without the benefit of proof.

I've noticed this practice in a Spar in Cork city too.

Shaneomac · 09-08-2009 09:38PM

If the shop has enough confidence the person has done so i.e caught redhanded on cctv which is more than likely the case here there is guilty and only guilty to be looked at. It would be different if however the person accused was stopped before they left the shop even if something has been concealed.

My name is URL · 09-08-2009 09:42PM

Shaneomac wrote: »

If the shop has enough confidence the person has done so i.e caught redhanded on cctv which is more than likely the case here there is guilty and only guilty to be looked at.

Not really, the shop is deeming them to be guilty without any charge being brought against the person

jhegarty · 09-08-2009 09:46PM

My name is URL wrote: »

Not really, the shop is deeming them to be guilty without any charge being brought against the person

Only the state can deem someone guilty.

What we have here is libel if they can't prove the person is shoplifter. Just stating a fact (he stole from our shop) if they can.

Sir Molle · 09-08-2009 09:48PM

It's a good idea. There's not much risk of someone innocent being put up there, since it's extremely easy to pick out someone who has shop lifted. Usually the reason you don't catch shop lifters is because you're busy on the tills to go after them legging it out of the shop with crap up their top.

Many a time I've run after them though and got the stuff back. If you have evidence on camera of someone shop lifting or you know that someone has stolen something, it is a really good idea. While, it probably wont shame the majority of shop lifters out of stealing again, it will probably stop a great deal of them.

The majority of people who steal are Roma, Teenagers or people on heavy drugs. If the teenagers are local, they odds are that someone will know them and they will be shamed out of doing it again, how ever the other two groups tend to be rather shameless.

pablomakaveli · 09-08-2009 09:53PM

They're doing it in a Centra near where i live. They did an article on it in a newspaper (the Examiner i think) and the shopkeeper said he was doing it because there was a large increase in the number of shoplifters in the last few months.

I think its a good idea. They deserve to be shamed.

Corkfeen · 09-08-2009 09:57PM

Remember a friend in school used to alway shoplift and then his picture appeared on the wall.

Fair is fair tbh.

P.C. · 09-08-2009 10:00PM

You can put pics up of anyone you want, as long as you don't say why you have put the pics up.

I went to a petrol station the other day, and there were pics of cars above the night hatch. I assumed they were pics of people who had stolen petrol, but it did not say - it could have been pics of loyal customer.

Mrmoe · 09-08-2009 10:13PM

I think it is a very good idea, I know of at least one pub and a cumputer store in Limerick that do this as well. They have big plasma tvs and they have freeze frame pictures of vandals on them caught in the act breaking windows etc. I don't know if they caught or identfied them but at least it's a good way to start fighting back.

rubadub · 09-08-2009 10:16PM

P.C. wrote: »

You can put pics up of anyone you want, as long as you don't say why you have put the pics up.

Thats what I would have thought. And reading the OP again it seems that is all they might have done.

jayteecork wrote: »

These are pictures of people of people Spar deemed to have been shoplifting and have posted their pictures in the hope of disgracing them i guess.

So does it specifically say they are shoplifters, or did you just "guess"

AckwelFoley · 09-08-2009 10:20PM

jhegarty wrote: »

Only the state can deem someone guilty.

What we have here is libel if they can't prove the person is shoplifter. Just stating a fact (he stole from our shop) if they can.

the state cant

The juduicial system and or AH is responsible for that task

Biggins · 09-08-2009 10:21PM

IF the shop goes to the bother of seeing they go to court and they are found guilty - serve them right!

If the shop catches them but lets them off - they don't deserve to put up their picture.
The thief(s) will just sin again more so and nothing would change lesser so.

As for showing their crimes 'on a loop' on a tv, thats good idea!
Stick a sign under the screen or above it - "IT COULD BE YOU!"

mike65 · 09-08-2009 10:27PM

Anto stares at window for a while, then it clicks - "ah Jasus, Jacinta shops here too, haven't seen her in ages"

jayteecork · 09-08-2009 10:28PM

rubadub wrote: »

So does it specifically say they are shoplifters, or did you just "guess"

Ok they didn't specifically state it but it's pretty obvious.

I guess Spar have their bases covered by not saying "THESE PEOPLE ARE SCUMBAG THIEVES" on their pictures, lol.

jhegarty · 09-08-2009 10:39PM

snyper wrote: »

the state cant

The juduicial system and or AH is responsible for that task

The juduicial system is an arm of the state.

Biggins · 09-08-2009 10:42PM

If they did not take them to court and had them be found guilty, they might be open to slander laws if in the shop they are called a "Shoplifter" out straight.

What shops/businesses could do is to loop such video on a screen(s), showing a possible crime taking place and asking (by text on the screen or nearby sign) the customers if they recognise a face?
Also they can ask "what you see on the screen, is this a crime?" without having to call the person in it an actual "thief" - then let the public see and decide for themselves what happens to these criminals when they get caught on cameras if possible.

Again, if they WERE found guilty in court, yep, post their pic up.
If only for the safety of the staff that might not recognise the thieves should they try and return yet again.

biko · 09-08-2009 10:45PM

snyper wrote: »

the state cant

The juduicial system and or AH is responsible for that task

AH should replace every jury in Ireland, quick, cheap, merciless and somewhat fair. Death polls ftw

Hal1 · 09-08-2009 10:51PM

Put them in the stocks and **** a load of the rotten fruit & veg at them. That'll learn 'em.

rubadub · 09-08-2009 10:51PM

jayteecork wrote: »

Ok they didn't specifically state it but it's pretty obvious.

I guess Spar have their bases covered by not saying "THESE PEOPLE ARE SCUMBAG THIEVES" on their pictures, lol.

Maybe obvious to some, but to quote yourself

jayteecork wrote: »

what happened to being innocent until proven guilty?

You're the one jumping to assumptions

I think its a great trick if it said nothing I expect it is fully legal, unless it comes under some law about taking photos of people in general.

Shane St. · 09-08-2009 10:51PM

I think its great idea

TheZohanS · 09-08-2009 10:56PM

Well Spar have nobody to blame but themselves for the shoplifting that goes on.

Their tagline is "All you need, when you need it. Under the tree at Spar."

It makes no reference to you having enough money to pay for the stuff.

Run_to_da_hills · 09-08-2009 10:57PM

Shops are leaving themselves wide open to lawsuit unless they have solid proof. They should only be allowed post pictures if the offenders have been convicted by the courts, other than that they are taking the law into their own hands.

Hal1 · 09-08-2009 10:57PM

Plenty garages around the country doing this to stop fuel theft.

Gummy Panda · 09-08-2009 11:14PM

Does these photos break the data protection act by showing them?

thomond2006 · 09-08-2009 11:20PM

The Banks will be doing it next.

Random Accused Customer: " Hey, that money was only resting in my account."

bitemybanger · 09-08-2009 11:32PM

the missus used to work in a Spar shop years ago and they did it there too, and they do it because only around 2% of shoplifters who are caught get charged. dunno how true the stats are but it seems plausable

jhegarty · 09-08-2009 11:33PM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Shops are leaving themselves wide open to lawsuit unless they have solid proof. They should only be allowed post pictures if the offenders have been convicted by the courts, other than that they are taking the law into their own hands.

If they have video of the shoplifting what lawsuit could they possible loose ?

rubadub · 09-08-2009 11:37PM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Shops are leaving themselves wide open to lawsuit unless they have solid proof.

Solid proof of what? they have made no claims.

Run_to_da_hills · 09-08-2009 11:38PM

jhegarty wrote: »

If they have video of the shoplifting what lawsuit could they possible loose ?

No proof, a person cannot be done for shoplifting until after they leave the premises and at that they miust be caught with the stolen merchandise.

RonMexico · 09-08-2009 11:40PM

Ha if every shop in the country did this they'd all run out of door space in about 24hrs.

Shoplifting is like a plague in this country. I've seen just about every type of person stealing at this stage.

jhegarty · 09-08-2009 11:40PM

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

No proof, a person cannot be done for shoplifting until [I]after[/I] they leave the premises.

I assume the shoplifter has left the shop when they put the picture up.

Spar putting pictures of "shoplifters" on the door.

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