Devon and Cornwall police are using Facebook and Twitter to circulate details of stolen goods - and get details of suspicious items being offered for sale.
Operation Inheritance aims to put the squeeze on the black market in stolen goods - by using social media to circulate details of them.
This week police posted photos and descriptions of jewellery stolen in Exeter - enabling any shop or internet seller who's offered the valuables for sale to recognise them.
By the same token businesses can use the social media sites to post details of any items they've been offered which they believe may have been acquired dishonestly.
Dozens of traders have already signed up for the scheme and police hope many more will do so.