18 September 2026
Bira has backed a major new report which shows that stolen goods markets are fuelling a surge in shop theft across Britain.
The report finds that offenders are able to convert stolen stock into cash through car boot sales, online marketplaces and rogue traders.
Bira says the findings confirm what it has long argued - that online marketplaces need to do far more to stop the sale of stolen goods.
The report, Stolen Goods: Exploring the Shifting Landscape of Illicit Markets and Identifying Ways to Disrupt Them, was commissioned by the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC), operated by the City of London Police, and authored by Professor Emmeline Taylor of the Aptus Business Crime Research Centre at City St George's, University of London.
It is the first UK study to examine in detail what happens to stolen property after it is taken. It identifies a "missing middle" of handlers, buyers and resellers who move stolen goods from thieves into markets that look legitimate.
Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said: "This report highlights why theft from shops has increased on an industrial scale, damaging retail businesses right across the UK. We have been saying for a long time that online marketplaces need to do more to stop the sale of stolen goods, and this research shows exactly why that action cannot wait any longer."Disrupting the markets that make theft profitable is just as important as catching the people who steal in the first place."
The report recommends a National Stolen Goods Intelligence Framework, stronger traceability for high-risk products and greater accountability for online platforms. Bira is urging government and industry to act on the findings without delay.
Bira's advocacy takes your voice to the heart of Parliament
Bira is at the forefront of championing the cause of independent traders and shopkeepers across Britain.
Our campaigns cover a wide spectrum of issues crucial to the success of independent traders including:
- Combatting the rising tide of retail crime
- Advocating for changes in legislation that promote fairness and flexibility
- Fighting for fairer business rates
- Overall reducing the regulatory burden
Image credit: Andrii Lysenko/stock.adobe.com
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