Warning after Sheffield posters accuse youth of crimes
Police have warned residents against putting up posters in their neighbourhoods accusing a teenager of a number of attempted burglaries.
A spate of break-ins in Walkley, Sheffield, have prompted someone to tape a picture of the suspected culprit on to lamp-posts.
The poster features an image of a teenage boy, aged between 13 and 16, and warns residents to be vigilant.
Police said the posters could "prompt unlawful action".
Acting Insp John Kirkham, from Hillsborough and Upperthorpe Safer Neighbourhood policing teams, said: "Posters of this nature can be misleading in the information they contain and may prompt unlawful action.
"Officers have recently located and removed several of these posters.
"We are treating this matter seriously and we are making inquiries to identify whoever is responsible for distributing these posters."