Home insurance provider uncovers stolen goods trading

Mon, 08 May 2006

Britons have spent nearly £1 billion on buying stolen goods from unlicensed traders in pubs and bars, new research by a leading home insurance provider shows.

A survey by Halifax Home Insurance reveals that some 5.6 million adults in the UK have bought goods illegally in public houses.

Around 3.7 million Brits say they would buy stolen goods from unauthorised traders if the price is right, while two-thirds of these say they wouldn't be put off if it looks as if the items appear to come from someone else's home.

Halifax Home Insurance believes this research shows that Britons are relaxed about suspected illegal activity.

Only a fifth of respondents said they would not quiz unlicensed traders about the origins of the goods they are selling, while 42 per cent would not report illegal sellers to the authorities.

"Millions of Britons may be unwittingly fuelling a cycle of theft by making it easy for burglars to resell their products in pubs and bars," comments the home insurance provider's senior underwriter, Vicky Emmott.

She adds that this type of trading is not "a victimless crime" and that Britons' "pursuit of a bargain" results in this type of burglary remaining a "widespread social problem".

Ms Emmott adds that it is "crucial" these unlicensed traders are reported to the police.

The most popular illegal purchases are DVDs, CDs and videos, the home insurance provider found, while men were found to be twice as likely as women to buy goods from suspicious traders in pubs and bars.

Ms Emmott warns people who support such traders: "They should be aware they could face criminal prosecution for handling stolen goods if the items purchased were found to have been taken from someone's house during a burglary."

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