Vigilante residents put up their own wanted poster over youth gangs
South Yorkshire Police said the posters could be "misleading" and "prompt unlawful action".
Residents in the Walkley area have taken the drastic action after a spate of break-ins in the area, prompting someone to tape a picture of the suspected culprit on to lamp-posts.
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Hide AdThe poster features an image of a tracksuit-clad teenage boy, aged between 13 and 16, and warns residents to be vigilant and lock their windows and doors.
But Acting Inspector 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 from the SNT have recently located and removed several of these posters, we are treating this matter seriously and we are making enquiries to identify whoever is responsible for distributing the posters."
Residents and shopkeepers said they have been plagued by gangs of youths in recent months.
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Hide AdPeter Fowlston told the Sheffield Star: "They hang around at the bottom of our road, drinking and knocking on doors and running off.
"We've lived on this road for many years but I don't recognise this lad."
Police appealed for anyone with information about the posters to get in touch.