Monthly Archives: December 2023

The Guardian website investigates the so-called ‘food black market’ from Leeds, the city that has been revealed as England’s shoplifting capital

A ‘normal’ woman is seen making an illicit transaction with three balaclava-clad men, a trio of thieves who have no problem shifting their stolen wares.

The GOV.UK website reports that Border Force officers seized almost one million items of counterfeit goods worth nearly £200m in 2023.

An intensive Border Force operation to tackle counterfeit electrical goods in the run-up to Black Friday and Christmas led to more than £170,000 worth of seizures.

An exclusive investigation by the Mirror website follows security officers as they go head to head with the ‘brazen’ thieves who are the scourge of the UK’s high streets.

With shoplifting costing British shop owners almost £1billion a year, business leaders are warning that thieves are growing more confident than ever.

According to the City Of London Police website, a crooked trio made £394,241 by selling counterfeit designer briefs, boxers and t-shirts online.

Pathum Don, Bashir Elsawahli and Guncha Elsawahli operated an illegal business in fake goods, before trying to disguise the source of their income.

The City Of London Police website reports that police seized an estimated £1 million worth of counterfeit goods during raids on Camden High Street, north London.

Approximately 4,000 items were seized from four shops, prompting police to urge shoppers not to buy ‘bargain’ designer products as Christmas gifts.

According to the BBC News website, hundreds of vulnerable women and children are being trafficked to the UK to shoplift for Eastern European criminal groups.

One company in Scotland has identified a gang with 154 shoplifters stealing high-value items in bulk to sell or ship abroad.