Stolen goods in London - information needed

Buying stolen goods fuels theft, phone snatching and harm in your community.

Stolen goods are not harmless bargains. They can be linked to shoplifting, burglary, robbery and mobile phone theft. 

Items are often moved on quickly through informal networks, social media, online marketplaces and local sales, creating demand that encourages further crime and makes people feel less safe in their communities.

Across London, stolen property can be resold cheaply and quickly - from everyday retail goods to high-value items such as mobile phones. A phone taken in a snatch theft may be handled, reset, advertised, sold on or exported by people who profit from the crime.

If you are offered a phone, designer item, tool, bike or other goods at a price that seems too good to be true, it could be stolen.

Think you know where stolen goods - including snatched mobile phones - are being stored, advertised or sold?

Your information, however small, could help disrupt the people behind these crimes. Tell Crimestoppers what you know 100% anonymously. We will pass it on for you and no one will ever know that you spoke up. Call free, any time, on 0800 555 111 or fill in our quick and secure online form, here on our website:

Give information anonymously

How to spot goods that may be stolen

These signs can indicate an item may have been stolen, handled after theft or placed for resale quickly:

• The price is unusually low or the seller is pushing for a quick sale.
• Security tags are still attached, or there is evidence that tags or labels have been forcibly removed.
• Packaging, instruction manuals, chargers, receipts or proof of purchase are missing.
• A mobile phone is being sold without a charger, box, receipt, account details or a clear explanation of ownership.
• Tools, bikes or other items have removed logos, painted-over ID markers or altered serial numbers.

Phone snatching is theft - and resale helps it continue

Mobile phones are often targeted because they are easy to move on and can hold high resale value. People involved may snatch phones, arrange collections, unlock or reset devices, advertise them online, sell them locally or move them out of the country. Information about any part of this process could help stop further thefts.

• You may know someone handling phones shortly after they have been stolen.
• You may have seen multiple phones being advertised by the same seller with little detail about where they came from.
• You may know an address, vehicle, social media profile, shop, storage location or regular meeting point linked to stolen devices.
• You do not need to prove a crime has happened. If something does not feel right, tell Crimestoppers what you know anonymously.

Clues that a seller may be handling stolen goods

Be vigilant and beware of sellers who demonstrate the following behaviours:

• They give vague or changing stories about how long they have owned the item or where it came from.
• They pressure you to close the deal immediately or offer a further discount for a fast payment.
• They cannot provide a receipt, proof of purchase or basic product details.
• They refuse to meet at a safe public place or keep changing the collection location.
• They demand cash, cryptocurrency or gift cards, or avoid traceable payment methods.

If you have information about stolen goods, phone snatching or the people profiting from resale, contact Crimestoppers 100% anonymously - guaranteed.

You might think your information is too small to matter, but a name, location, vehicle registration, online listing, social media profile or storage address could help disrupt the resale of stolen property.

You can tell us:

• Information about planned thefts, burglaries, robberies, shoplifting or phone snatching.
• Descriptions or names of people involved in stealing, handling, storing or selling stolen items.
• Details of stolen goods or mobile phones being advertised or sold, including when and where.
• Information about suspicious online seller profiles, listings, delivery arrangements or meeting points.
• Addresses, shops, vehicles or people linked to storing, resetting, exporting or moving stolen devices.

Call 0800 555 111 or give information online, here on our website. Crimestoppers is a national charity, and independent of the police. We never ask for your personal details and cannot identify anyone who contacts us.

We pay cash rewards for information about theft and stolen goods

We can pay up to £1,000 if the information you give to Crimestoppers leads to an arrest and charge. When you give your information, simply request a reward code. More information is available here.