“We don’t want to play sheriff,” the pharmacist stated during a phone conversation with our colleagues from RTL.lu, who wanted to know why the pharmacy had launched the witness appeal on Facebook.
On Wednesday, a pharmacy in northern Luxembourg posted an appeal on Facebook to search for a suspected pickpocket. The post initially included photos of the alleged pickpocket but has since been modified to remove the images. The pictures attached to the post, which was shared over 4,500 times, depicted a man carrying a bag. His face was clearly recognisable on the images. Users in the comments section provided potential leads on the suspect’s identity. The pharmacist informed RTL that all pertinent information had been relayed to the police.
“We issued the appeal because the video footage clearly shows the man stealing the bag from the rollator of a customer. We filed a complaint with the police, and also informed them that we would do this,” the pharmacist said. He also claimed that the pharmacy consulted a legal expert before publishing the post.
The police have reportedly received the information and video recordings provided by the pharmacy. In a subsequent Facebook post, the pharmacy expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the collective effort in identifying the suspect.
According to the police press office, it would be very difficult to prevent private initiatives through social media, emphasising the importance of private individuals coordinating with law enforcement to avoid potential disruptions to investigations. According to the police, sharing information on social media could jeopardise investigations by triggering reactions from potential perpetrators or leading to the removal of evidence.
The police underscored the need for private individuals launching appeals to adhere to data protection and privacy regulations to avoid legal consequences. It was stressed that the police should be kept informed of all steps taken, ensuring a coordinated effort between the community and law enforcement.
The police also advise against taking independent action when reporting missing persons. While acknowledging the emotional reactions of family and friends in such situations, the police stress the need for collaboration with officers.
In cases involving criminal offences, such as hit-and-run accidents or acts of violence, the police stress that calling witnesses and investigating the incident clearly fall within their purview, as well as that of the judiciary. The police press office underscored in writing that reporting the case directly to the police is a priority, enabling the initiation of necessary investigations, including evidence collection.
The police highlighted the significance of centralised reporting to enable comprehensive checks for connections to other criminal offences or prior reports at different police stations. The police warn that if a private individual voices their suspicions against a certain person in a public post and names them, they are basically publicly accusing them without necessarily having any evidence, which can cause enormous damage to that person. The police reiterate that it is their role to conduct objective and neutral investigations.
