Even if they identify the correct guy and even if they have reasonable evidence, it's likely that what they're doing is entrapment. Most police departments have their own agents looking for this sort of behaviour online, but are very careful to follow procedures that will actually allow them to make convictions. This sort of high-profile vigilante activity has serious potential to interfere with legitimate police investigations... for example, by causing suspects to change their online behaviour by becoming more cautious.
And as the police suggest, their risk is probably a lot higher than they realize. At some point, some pedo was going to figure them out and come prepared. I appreciate their desire to make a difference, but just completely the wrong way to go about it.
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