Gabe Fidanque with the shoplifter's boot

The owner of a Durango liquor store is teaching thieves a lesson with a unique punishment.

Gabe Fidanque of Wagon Wheel Liquors says calling the police on shoplifters just wasn't working.

"Police come down and issue them a ticket and a lot of time, like I said, they'll come right back right after that," Fidanque said.

So the man came up with a punishment of his own to deter thieves: take their shoe. He says anyone caught stealing has an option.

"I gave him the opportunity to either have the police come down and issue him a ticket or he could leave without a ticket but leave his shoe also," he said.

As Fidanque tells it, the crook hobbled off without his boot and has not come back.

He says the key to stopping criminals is to embarrass them.

"The humiliation is the biggest deterrent, humiliating them enough that they would never do it again," he said.

The shop has collected more than a dozen pieces of footwear over the years. Customers say Wagon Wheel is on to something.

"People are like, it's a good idea. Let's not waste money, eye for an eye," Fidanque said.

However, law enforcement isn't too happy with Fidanque's form of justice. Police told him he has to stop taking shoes and give them all back.

Fidanque says he will honor officers' wishes, but he will continue to fight crime his own way.

"This might bring up some other creative ways of stopping shoplifters, but as long as it's within the law," he said.