In brief
In the wake of violent riots across French cities, Vinted announced it has removed any listings suspected of selling stolen merchandise. The platform says it intensified monitoring and will ban accounts that breach its policies. Authorities and retailers report widespread damage, with more than 2,000 shops affected. Vinted is working closely with French police to identify and tackle malicious behaviour. Other marketplaces, such as eBay, also confirmed ongoing efforts to prevent the sale of stolen goods.
Vinted says it has removed listings of items believed to have been looted by rioters in France. The online resale platform confirmed it took immediate action after the weekend’s disorder, identifying and taking down any offers linked to stolen merchandise.
During the unrest, shops in Paris, Marseille, Lille and other cities were broken into and ransacked by protesters turned rioters. The spill‑over of violence resulted in at least 1,200 arrests and thousands of businesses suffering property damage.
"The sale of stolen goods, or soliciting them, is strictly prohibited on Vinted, and we have zero tolerance for it," a company spokesperson told the BBC. The firm is also stepping up its monitoring of suspicious listings and will ban accounts that breach its policies.
Vinted is collaborating with French authorities and police, adapting its detection processes to counter emerging risks. The platform added that when befores authorities confirm an item is stolen, it will promptly remove the listing and take action against the seller.
In comparison, eBay has reported no rise in looted‑goods listings, but it also works closely with law enforcement to investigate suspected stolen items, removing them once confirmed.
Retailers such as Dior, Rolex, Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren reported shopfront damage, while sports clubs like Olympique de Marseille and Lille closed their official stores during the turmoil. The Paris police said the riots led to hundreds of millions of euros in damage, with many shops closed or operating under heightened security.
For further coverage, see BBC’s report on the French riots.
