Police in Nanjing's Gulou district, in Jiangsu province, have been uploading photos and video of suspected thieves to the Internet since Monday in the hope people will recognize them.

Anyone providing information to help the police to catch a suspect will be rewarded 1,000 yuan ($165), according to local police, who have caught two thieves already with information provided by local residents.

However, lawyers said it is improper for police to create the website (http://zxt.jschina.com.cn/) and upload information about suspects.

Wang Jianwen, a law professor at Hohai University in Nanjing, said police can publish wanted posters online if the suspects are involved in criminal cases, but the same policy should not be used for people suspected of stealing small amounts of money.