Shops buy stolen goods from professional shoplifters, retail groups say – The Irish News

According to retail organisations, shops in the UK are buying stolen goods from professional shoplifters who steal to order for criminal gangs to fund their addiction problems.

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) said its members reported “numerous” and “very blatant and direct” incidents of shoplifting, with meat, cheese and alcohol products being targeted.

Businesses are reporting that their items are being sold locally or through Facebook or WhatsApp groups after being stolen.

James Lowman, director of ACS, told the PA news agency he was aware of other businesses, usually smaller shops, also buying stolen goods.

According to Mr Lowman, thieves steal to order and he suspects buyers may turn a blind eye because they are not sure whether the items have been stolen.

He continued: “What we are seeing is a higher volume of theft by the same people who are professional shoplifters, often to feed their addiction problems.

“And how do they do that? Well, they resell the products. And so we think there’s probably a stronger market for those resold products.

“And that’s something we’ve observed and talked about over the last few years.”

Andrew Goodacre, chief executive of the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), says he is aware of criminal gangs involved in organising shoplifters to increase their opportunities to steal and destroy goods.

He also said that over the past year he has heard of more cases of other stores buying up the stolen goods.

In Truro, Cornwall, Martin Gaunt, owner of specialty gifts shop Happy Piranha, said he followed a thief and saw goods stolen from his shop being sold on to another trader, Mr Goodacre told PA.

Mr Goodacre continued: “I think in the past, and still today, it was often about things like meat and cheese.

“But now our membership base consists of pet shops, clothing stores, hardware stores, cooking shops, gift shops, independent department stores and clothing stores.

“And I think 80% of them now report stuff being stolen, which they wouldn’t have done two or three years ago.

“People steal pet food, pet accessories, cleaning products, kitchen utensils, kettles, all kinds of other things, depending on what has been ordered.

“But also because placing a cheap kettle on Facebook Marketplace is likely to lead to a sale very quickly.”

According to the ACS, its members reported 5.6 million incidents of shoplifting last year, with half of those shoplifters being repeat offenders.

According to the ACS, convenience stores spent £339m last year on crime prevention measures such as CCTV, alarms and tagging, PA reported.

It comes after a former prolific shoplifter told the BBC he stole goods worth “tens of thousands” of pounds and regularly sold the items to other stores.

Ross, 39, who has been convicted of shoplifting 15 times but has never served time in prison, estimates he stole £300 worth of goods every day, which he then sold to support his crack cocaine and heroin addiction.

He told the broadcaster that he had also stolen goods to order for a so-called intermediary, who would then resell the goods.

He said perfume, cosmetics, alcohol and food were among the items he regularly stole and resold “at the cheapest wholesale price”.

Mr Lowman said hearing this would be “painful” for businesses.

A spokesman for the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said stolen goods were ending up in “unscrupulous” restaurants, market stalls and online marketplaces.

According to the spokesperson, there has been an increase in gang-related crime in the retail sector in recent years, with thieves showing up at multiple stores of the same company in one day.

He continued: “It’s difficult for retailers because they report these crimes and there are procedures they have to go through.

“But police deployment is currently so low that these crimes are unfortunately not being taken seriously enough.

“These gangs realize they can get away with it.”

Stephanie Karte from Retailers Against Crime said: “You have the local offender who, unfortunately, nine times out of ten is addicted to alcohol or drugs. And they end up stealing to support their addiction.

“Basically they get money for the stuff they steal and where does that money go? It goes to the drug dealer.

“So when you think about it and all those little things, it actually all funds a much more serious crime.”

The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) has been asked for comment.