Martinsville police increasing effort to crackdown on shoplifting

MARTINSVILLE (WSLS 10) - The Martinsville Police Department is starting a new initiative in an effort to continue to reduce shoplifting.

The mugshots of those arrested for shoplifting will now be posted to the department's Facebook page.

Shoplifting has been a major focus for the department over the past year and the department hopes that publishing the mugshots will show would-be shoplifters how serious officers are.

"To let people know that the Martinsville Police Department takes shoplifting very seriously and we're not going to tolerate it here in our city and that when it does occur we're going to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law," explained Lt. Tony Turner.

Turner also pointed out that publishing the mugshots helps employees and business owners know if recognize these people if they come into their store again.

As of Tuesday, shoplifting was down 29 percent year to date in Martinsville compared to 2015.