A NEW social media page has been set up to help members of the community find their stolen goods.

A good idea, or just plain old-fashioned vigilantism?

The Facebook page called ‘Stolen Stuff Ballarat’ has attracted some 2000 members since it was set up earlier this week.

It was established by concerned resident Steve Murnane in response to the increasing number of thefts in and around Ballarat, a problem which has escalated in the past week with the theft of tradesmen’s power tools, work trailers and vehicles.

Mr Murnane said he wanted to create a separate Facebook page from ‘Ballarat Buy, Swap and Sell’ to report incidents of stolen property. Group members have posted images of damaged and missing cars on the site. 

The frustration of honest Ballarat people is understandable. Why should criminals think it’s their right to steal from hardworking people?

“Things are getting harder these days and people need to work for their stuff,” Mr Murnane said. “When these people steal what you have worked hard for, it’s just not right.”

Mr Murnane felt that doing something like setting up the Facebook page was better than doing nothing.

Many of the posts on Facebook selling and buying pages degrade to nothing more than a slanging match between groups of commenters, which is a real shame for those genuinely wanting to either sell or buy items.

Mr Murnane stressed he would moderate the site’s content and advised against naming and shaming suspects.

However, there is a real danger that those commenting on ‘Stolen Stuff Ballarat’ could name and shame the wrong person. 

It’s happened before, where trial by social media has drawn the wrong conclusion.

Take the case of the Shepparton mother falsely accused of killing her two sons by gassing them in the home, when, in fact, a faulty heater was the cause.

Mr Murnane also said he would pass on information received on the site to police for investigation.

While police must be equally as frustrated by the recent spike in thefts in Ballarat, let’s hope they are not kept away from doing their duty by chasing false leads and misinformation brought in by ‘Stolen Stuff Ballarat’ and similar social media sites.