Brits are flogging stolen meat and cheese on Facebook Marketplace, a new report claims.
As the cost of living crisis continues, many are taking desperate measures to make some quick cash. And according to the Association of Convenience Stores, there is now a “higher volume of theft” than normal, with fresh meat and cheese, as well as alcohol, becoming the target of choice for thieves.
The products, however, are not being stolen for self-use, they’re being taken and later sold on Facebook Marketplace or even in WhatsApp groups.
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It had also been claimed by one news outlet that some supermarkets were attempting to “buy” the products back, but the Daily Star was sternly told that this was “utter nonsense” by one major brand. We did try to find examples of meat and cheese being flogged on the site but were unable to do so, despite extensive searches.
(Image: Photothek via Getty Images)
Facebook’s terms and policies does explicitly state that “listings may not promote the buying or selling of items that have been stolen” – but it clearly has little impact, experts are claiming.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “What we are seeing is a higher volume of theft from the same people who are professional shop thieves, often doing it to feed addiction problems. And how do they do that? Well, they resell the products. And so we think there probably is a stronger market for those resold products.”
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), a total of 443,995 offences of shoplifting were recorded by police from March 2023 to March 2024 – a whopping 30% increase on the year prior.
A British Retail Consortium spokesman said: “It’s tough for retailers because they do report these crimes and there are processes they go through. But the police response is so low at the moment that unfortunately these crimes aren’t treated with enough seriousness at the moment.
“These gangs realise they can get away with it.”
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