Shops at Southland have been handed a letter from centre management warning them about a “new craze”.

It told them to remain “vigilant” for the so-called “24-hour challenge”.

In an apparent new craze, teens find a hiding spot inside a shop and wait for all staff to leave and shut the store before they film themselves locked inside.

They then share it with the aim of getting “likes” on social media.

Michelle works at a retail store in the centre and sent a copy of the letter to Tom Elliott.