Idaho Social Media ‘Mob’ Targets Innocent Man in Porch Theft Case

So often these days, we see law enforcement taking to social media to ask the public for help. After all, the internet is really where people 'are' these days.

What's the downside? Well..accusing the wrong person.

This time of year, many of us are ordering things online--gifts for the holidays or spending that gift card cash we were gifted. With lots of packages hitting doorsteps, comes a sense of urgency to get them OFF of your porch--because people steal things from doorsteps!

Just months ago, we received reports of a door dash thief here in Boise--and it's no secret, this kind of crime does indeed take place in the Treasure Valley.

Can you imagine having your food taken?

Well, over the holidays, you may have seen Nampa Police on the hunt for a porch pirate--using the hashtag #NotInNampa, the police department posted a crystal clear photo of a man that was 'stealing packages'.

Allegedly.

It didn't take long for them to learn that he was actually picking up packages that were his--and left at the wrong house. By the time this was learned, however, the internet was already doing what it often does best: attacking the man.

We're glad that the Nampa Police Department was quick to label the man innocent in the below post: 

Despite the police department clearing the man-- it's easy to know that 'the internet' loves attacking people and declaring folk guilty. Oh, keyboard warriors.

There have been dozens of comments on the post since the police department declared the man innocent--attacking him. Others online are replying to those folks pointing out that they haven't read the full story. It's a bit of a mess.

Policing on social media can be a quick way to get a lot of eyes on a crime or person of interest for law enforcement--and often times, it pays off. This time around, however, we see the potential risk of taking to social media for a crime like this--without all of the answers.

The person who reported him to police probably should have checked their own accounts to see if they had packages coming (and delivered), first.