A SHOPLIFTER who was named and shamed by a Warrington shop owner was jailed for five months last Friday but police say this should not encourage other shopkeepers to do the same.

Philip Crockett, 34, of no fixed address, who pleaded guilty to two other shoplifting charges at Warrington Magistrates' Court, was caught on CCTV stealing a video camera from Hexel Developments at Cairo Street on January 25.

The managing director, Craig Whittaker, put the picture up in the window with a statement saying Cheshire Police wanted to interview the man concerning allegations of shoplifting.

Mr Whittaker said: "If anybody tries to steal anything from us they can be sure that they will get their face in the window because it builds up awareness. The proof is in the pudding - within a week of it being put up the lad was caught."

Nick Boulton, store manager at jewellers A. Baker and Sons, agreed: "We would certainly use cameras to name and shame them. To be honest not only would I put their picture up in the shop window - I'd put it up on the lampposts as well."

But Louise Benson, store manager at Marks and Spencer, on Bridge Street and a member of the Town Centre Partnership, said there should be a network in place that stops shoplifters coming in and excludes them from the town.

Mrs Benson said: "Naming and shaming should be a last resort as it can be a real can of worms and often the people who have been stolen from end up worse off."

The police warned that they would strongly dissuade people from doing anything of this nature because the end result may be that it would prejudice any pending trial and could end up with the shoplifters being acquitted.