Vinted blocks French looters listing stolen goods for sale

Vinted says it has removed listings of items believed to have been looted from shops during the ongoing riots in France.

The second hand re-selling platform said following the weekend’s disorder it had “taken immediate action to identify and remove listings linked to looting”.

Shops across several French cities were broken into and ransacked during the outbreak of riots over the weekend.

“The sale of stolen goods, or soliciting them, is strictly prohibited on Vinted, and we have zero tolerance for it,” a spokesperson for the company said.

Widespread looting was reported across Paris, Marseille and Lille, as well as other areas after protests against the cost of living and public spending turned into riots, leading to the arrests of at least 1,200 people.

More than 2,000 businesses were directly impacted by the weekend’s violence, according to the head of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI).

Alain Di Crescenzo told France’s broadcaster RTL that the riots led to hundreds of millions of euros worth of damage.

Groups of rioters, some wearing masks and balaclavas, were seen setting fire to cars and buildings as well as looting businesses.

Those that stole goods now appear to be looking to sell them on fast.

“Since this weekend, our teams have taken immediate action to identify and remove listings linked to the looting, and we have stepped up monitoring of suspicious listings,” Vinted told the BBC.

“When our rules are breached, we act against the accounts involved, up to permanent bans.”

The company said it was working with French authorities and the police, and was adapting its “processes to detect and counter emerging risks and malicious behaviour”.

eBay has not noted any increase in listings linked to the looting in France, but said it works with law enforcement to investigate suspected stolen goods and takes appropriate action, including removing listings and taking action against sellers, when authorities confirm an item is stolen.