Canadian police warned citizens against filming thieves while stealing packages in front of homes and publishing and circulating these video clips on social media platforms. The police indicated that this act is considered a violation of the privacy of the alleged thieves.
The police forces in the Canadian province of Quebec explained that the western Montreal area is famous for its large balconies, and during the weekends, these balconies are the target of many thieves, who are known as balcony thieves.
West Council member responsible for public safety, Lauren Small Pennfather, explained that this matter is dealt with by the Canadian police on a daily basis, as people track vehicles, and when they see a package that has been delivered, they then go and take the package if no one from inside comes to carry it.
Police warn against sharing footage of alleged porch thieves
The police explained that citizens should not circulate and publish these pictures of the alleged robbers' clips on the Internet and social networking sites, and they warned the police not to publish them on their own, emphasizing that the police always assume innocence and that publishing that picture could violate the thief's private life.
"If you get evidence that someone may have stolen something, call the police and submit that evidence to the police," she said. He went on to say, "We will conduct an investigation, bring this person to justice, and file some charges against him."
Possible defamation charges
It is worth emphasizing that those who video these incidents and post them on social networking platforms may face defamation penalties.
This is a reference to Articles 35 and 36 of the Civil Code of Quebec, which state that "every person has the right to respect for his reputation and privacy," and that "a person's privacy may not be invaded without the person's consent or without the law permitting the invasion."
Furthermore, depending on the circumstances, these individuals may face civil or criminal charges.
Angry reactions
Immediately after these Canadian police comments were released on Fox, there were heated reactions and surprise that Canadians would face legal consequences for posting home surveillance footage of stolen parcels.
One Canadian journalist commented, "We are in the year 2024, so the police care more about criminals than they do about crime victims."
