Wall of shame trader defiant

THE owner of an Ipswich shop who demanded money from suspected shoplifters to remove their pictures from a wall of shame today insisted he had done nothing wrong.

The owners of Goodna's Bargain Warehouse this morning hit out at claims they had broken the law by hanging up photos of alleged shoplifters - including several children - and demanding they pay $100 to have them removed.

The Courier-Mail this morning revealed the store's proprietors, Vishal and Neeta Patel, said they intended to pass any money they received to the local Rotary club.

Poll: Do you agree with the shaming of alleged shoplifters?

"We are sick and tired of people stealing from our shop," an exasperated Mrs Patel said.

"We are not extorting money. We don't know what else to do."

Mr Patel said he believed they were not committing any offence by posting the photos.

However, he only realised he had broken the law when Ipswich police raided his St Ives Shopping Centre store and ordered the photos' removal.

Mr Patel said not only did children repeatedly steal from his store, they revisited the store despite having their photos featured on the wall of shame.

He said he was yet to receive any money to remove a photo and that he had referred about 10 alleged thefts to police.

"But nothing happened," he said.

The Courier-Mail visited Goodna's Bargain Warehouse several times during the past week and sighted many photographs, taken from the shop's CCTV camera, pinned to a board hung behind the store's cash register.

Next to the pictures was a hand-written sign which read: "To take photo off wall pay $100 to Ipswich Rotary charity."

Under some of the photographs is written the word "Bum".

Beneath one photo, which clearly shows the face of two children, reads a caption: "14 and 13 year stole from here, took it next door as gift. Caught."

Another claims to depict a man from a "special centre" and also a "mother and daughter (who came) in, stole, got caught – $50 worth."

Ipswich City councillor Paul Tully made an official complaint to police when he was made aware of what the shop was doing.

"It is absolutely reprehensible that these children have had their pictures displayed so publicly," Cr Tully said.

"I think anyone featured should consult a lawyer and see if they can sue them."

Under section 301 of the Juvenile Act (1992), it is a criminal offence to identify a child investigated or convicted of a criminal offence

Any person convicted of identifying a child offender faces a maximum fine of $7500 or two years' jail.

The practice of hanging photos to shame shoplifters has become an increasingly common practice by frustrated retail outlets.

Ipswich City Rotary president Ted Roberts said he was unaware the shop was trying to raise money for Rotary.

At this stage it seems unlikely the owners will face charges.

 A police spokeswoman said none of the people photographed had made a complaint, though one had been made by Ipswich City Councillor Paul Tully, and at this stage the business owner had not committed an offence.

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