Vinted removes listings of goods allegedly looted during French riots
Vinted announced that it has taken down listings it believes involve items stolen from shops during the recent riots in France. The second‑hand resale platform said it acted quickly after the weekend unrest to locate and delete any posts connected to looting.
Shops in several French cities were broken into and ransacked as protests over the cost of living and public spending escalated into violent clashes. A Vinted spokesperson stressed that the sale or solicitation of stolen goods is strictly forbidden on the platform and that the company maintains a zero‑tolerance policy.
The disturbances spread across Paris, Marseille, Lille and other areas, leading to the arrest of at least 1,200 people. According to the head of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry, more than 2,000 businesses suffered direct damage over the weekend, and the total cost was estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros. Witnesses reported groups of rioters, many wearing masks and balaclavas, setting fire to cars and buildings while looting stores. Some of the stolen items now appear to be offered for sale online.
“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.” France is one of Vinted’s biggest markets, alongside the United Kingdom and Italy.
The company said it is cooperating with French authorities and police, and is adapting its processes to detect and counter emerging risks and malicious behaviour. eBay, another major marketplace, reported no surge in looting‑related listings in France but said it works with law enforcement to investigate suspected stolen goods and will remove listings or sanction sellers when items are confirmed as stolen.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal called for partial curfews and condemned the “thieves” and “thugs” behind the unrest. Reuters reported that luxury boutiques around Place Vendôme in Paris were shut down and guarded by security, with shopfronts of Dior, Rolex, Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren damaged. In Marseille, Olympique de Marseille confirmed its official store on the historic main avenue had been looted and was closed, and Ligue 1 club Lille announced its club shop would remain shut until further notice.