Vinted blocks French looters selling stolen goods online

Online marketplace Vinted has taken swift action to remove listings of items believed to have been looted from stores during the recent riots across several French cities. Following widespread unrest over the weekend, individuals who stole goods have attempted to quickly offload and sell the stolen merchandise through digital platforms, prompting an immediate crackdown by platform operators on October 19, 2026, at 16:25 BST.

The disturbances began after protests against the cost of living and public spending escalated into violent riots across major urban areas including Paris, Marseille, and Lille. The violence led to the arrests of at least 1,200 individuals as groups of rioters, some wearing masks and balaclavas, set fire to vehicles and buildings while ransacking local businesses.

According to Alain Di Crescenzo, head of France's Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI), who spoke to French broadcaster RTL, more than 2,000 businesses were directly damaged by the weekend violence, resulting in hundreds of millions of euros in economic losses. Reuters reported that luxury boutiques around the Place Vendome in Paris were shuttered and surrounded by security guards, while storefronts belonging to high-end brands such as Dior, Rolex, Louis Vuitton, and Ralph Lauren suffered physical damage.

"The sale of stolen goods, or soliciting them, is strictly prohibited on Vinted, and we have zero tolerance for it."

Vinted spokesperson

A spokesperson for Vinted emphasized the company's firm stance, stating that their teams immediately identified and removed listings connected to the looting while stepping up surveillance on suspicious activity. The company warned that any breach of its policies would result in strict penalties against the accounts involved, up to and including permanent bans.