Don’t shoplift or you’ll become famous on Facebook

ALLIANCE – Don’t shoplift in Alliance or your face might appear on Facebook.

The Alliance Police Department has resumed its old practice of posting information about people caught shoplifting – including mugshots, names and suspected crimes – on its Facebook page after a three-year hiatus, which it had stopped because it had become too cumbersome.

However, Captain James Hilles said shoplifting had again become a problem in the city.

He said major retailers like Meijer, Walmart and Lowe’s and their anti-theft officers are busy fighting store thieves. He hopes this “call-out” on Facebook will deter people from stealing from stores in the future.

“Everyone arrested for shoplifting is treated equally,” Hilles said.

You may be wondering: Is this legal? Yes.

In Ohio, mugshots – like criminal records – are public documents unless a judge seals them or expunges the conviction or classifies them as confidential or exempt. Facebook also has no policies restricting the posting of mugshots on its platform.

So, yes, it is legal.

Erin Cataldo, a spokeswoman for Meijer, said there are not many shoplifting incidents at the new store. Still, she added, “We appreciate the efforts of the Alliance Police Department to curb shoplifting throughout the area.”

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or [email protected]. On X (formerly Twitter): @bduerREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Alliance Police posts shoplifters on Facebook