When images of rioters overturning mailboxes and setting cars on fire began to fill their TV screens and social media sites, most people watched in frustration.
Port Coquitlam's Dave Teixeira registered a website domain name.
Twenty-four hours and a quarter of a million hits later, www.canucksriot2011.com has become an outlet for people who want to post their photos and videos of rioters, in hopes of helping police identify the culprits responsible for violence, theft and property damage.
So far, more than 100 images have been posted and Teixeira is encouraging people to go to the site and tag anyone committing a crime who may look familiar.
"People who are upset with what happened are turning over their data," Teixeira said.
"It is just an opportunity to regain some of our pride. What those criminals did is not indicative of all of us. Those are not hockey fans."
Teixeira launched the website with photos he collected from Twitter and Facebook. Shortly after the site went live, people began posting their own images clearly showing people smashing windows and lighting cars on fire.
The large amount of traffic has crashed the site several times. Since it went live, Teixeira said he has been fielding interview requests from around the world, including Israel and the United Kingdom.
But mostly, traffic is from people who are frustrated and want to help police catch the criminals, he said.
"This way the police can come in and take a look the them," he said.
Teixeira said he is aware that pictures can be misconstrued, adding that if he is contacted by someone who can explain their actions, he will remove the images. He also received several doctored photos, which he has not posted on the site.
But not all of the images show violence and destruction. Teixeira said several photos feature people trying to stop rioters and help clean up the mess.
"There are people who are in the photos standing up to these criminals," he said. "So with all the bad, there is some good."
Those who can identify the people in the pictures are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
