The only option to contact anyone before the phone was invented was by writing a letter, licking a stamp and hoping that the letter would find the intended recipient before they died of old age.

The telephone came to our shores about August 1880 and helped to close the gap, however the biggest step in communications and connectivity to the outside world has been the google net and social networks such as Facebook.

Facebook and similar social networking websites bring us closer together. We now can chat to anyone in the world, and comment on and review anything that tickles your fancy. You can upload videos on your fFcebook page and YouTube.

CCTV is now an affordable system that we can use to help with the security of our valuables and to dissuade offenders from committing crimes on our properties, however, there are some crooks that do not care or cannot see the cameras and unfortunately for them get caught on CCTV which can be downloaded and forwarded to police to help with the investigation.

CCTV is good evidence and it compliments any other evidence that may be gleaned from a crime scene such as fingerprints and DNA.

Police require evidence to lead them to the person who committed the crime and must prove beyond a reasonable doubt to a magistrate in court that the person in front of them is guilty as charged, however, the Court of Public opinion on social network sites are not held to the same standard that police investigations are.

We have all seen Facebook videos of crooks committing crimes and the public posting names of the offenders and expressing their discontent at the actions of the alleged offender. However, there are times that the CCTV is posted on social networks before the footage is handed to police.

Placing CCTV on social networks may hinder an investigation and may also lead to persons being named and shamed who are not the offender but, merely a person that resembles the crook.

NSW Police have a Facebook page (EYEWATCH) and yes, we have a local page for the South Coast PD. This is a powerful tool for us to use to identify offenders.

Images of a person of interest is posted onto the Eyewatch page, however we ask that any person with information regarding the person of interest to contact local police or Crime Stoppers. This will ensure that any images or CCTV will be admissible in court and the identification of the accused is solid.

When you report a crime and you have CCTV footage, please hand it to police and resist the temptation to put the footage on social media as your first action. Have a chat to the investigator and ask if it is appropriate.

As always, in case of emergency, call (000).

Non Emergencies contact Police Link on 131 444 or your local Police.

To provide anonymous information call crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Don't forget. Cops are tops.

READ MORE: COURT AND CRIME