VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – After a second man’s name and home address was leaked online in connection to Amanda Todd’s death, Mounties are warning people about taking justice into their own hands. But one expert says this kind of behaviour is nothing new.

SFU Criminology Professor Ehor Boyanowsky says historically, vigilantism has always existed, from lynch mobs to people going after suspected child molesters. But he does admit the Amanda Todd case is different.

“Now there’s another dimension and that is the Internet. Two things happen now, you can communicate more quickly and you can be even more anonymous than you are in the crowd,” he explains. “So this has ramped up the response that people have to things like this.”

Boyanowsky adds the mob-type mentality can be dangerous, as seen with the Stanley Cup Riot.

“Very often we have to be protected by authorities and by judicial process from our own anger and we should not ask authorities to respond on the basis of what offends us because it could come back to haunt us.”

As Mounties call for public restraint, Boyanowsky thinks police have to share more information on the investigation to reassure everyone that some action is being taken.