Shops Buying Stolen Goods from Professional Shoplifters, Retail Groups Say
Reports from members of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) indicate a concerning rise in “high volume” shoplifting incidents, which are described as “very brazen and direct.” Commonly targeted items include meats, cheeses, and alcoholic beverages. This issue is further compounded by the fact that these stolen goods often find their way into local sales channels or are quickly circulated on popular social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp.
James Lowman, the Chief Executive of ACS, highlighted the problem of smaller businesses inadvertently or knowingly purchasing these stolen items. Lowman pointed out that a pattern of “theft to order” has emerged, where professional thieves systematically steal goods based on specific requests, possibly fueled by the retailers’ reluctance to thoroughly investigate the origins of such bargain products.
“This indicates not only a higher frequency of thefts by repeat offenders—who are often driven by addiction—but also a burgeoning market for these illicitly obtained products,” Lowman explained, underscoring that this trend has been under observation for several years.
Andrew Goodacre, the Chief Executive of the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), added his observations of criminal syndicates orchestrating shoplifting operations to enhance the efficiency of theft and resale operations. Goodacre recounted a scenario where stolen goods from a shop in Truro, Cornwall were openly sold to another retailer, illustrating the problem’s tangible impact on businesses.
“The diversity of goods being stolen and resold spans across various types of retail establishments, from pet shops to independent department stores,” Goodacre noted, emphasizing how the issue has escalated beyond typical high-theft items to virtually anything that can be quickly sold online or in informal retail settings.
The ACS reported an alarming 5.6 million incidents of shop theft over a year, with a significant portion of offenses committed by habitual shoplifters. To combat this surge in crime, convenience stores have invested approximately £339 million in crime prevention tactics, including the deployment of CCTV systems, alarms, and product tagging technology.
The narrative of a former shoplifter who provided insights to the BBC brings to light the ease with which stolen goods are filtered into the retail ecosystem to support addiction. “Ross”, a 39-year-old with a history of shoplifting and drug abuse, shared his method of stealing items valued up to £300 daily to procure crack cocaine and heroin. Describing himself as a quasi-wholesaler, Ross detailed how he fulfilled orders for a middleman who would then sell the stolen goods.
These revelations are particularly frustrating for retailers, many of whom feel their plight is underacknowledged by law enforcement agencies. A spokesperson from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) mentioned that stolen items often end up in the hands of unscrupulous businesses, ranging from restaurants to market stalls, and are rampant on online marketplaces.
The spokesperson also highlighted the trend of gang-oriented retail theft, with coordinated attacks on stores, and expressed concern over the lack of serious policing for these retail crimes.
From the perspective of Retailers Against Crime, Stephanie Karte emphasizes the broader implications of shoplifting, which often serves as a funding mechanism for more serious criminal activities, especially when addiction is the driving force behind the thefts.
The issue of shops and businesses buying and selling stolen goods reflects a complex problem intertwining addiction, organized crime, and economic pressures, where the lines between victim and perpetrator often blur, leaving communities and small business owners to bear the brunt of these illicit activities.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has been approached for comment on this growing concern and the strategies to combat retail crime more effectively.
