Inside £70k 'champagne gang' as shoplifters across UK paid 'day rate' to steal

Highly organised shoplifting gangs targeting major UK stores are 'recruiting' criminals to steal, providing them with shopping lists and paying a daily rate for their time, it can be revealed. Others are offered housing and promised a 'better life' working for the gang, with exploitation said to play a part in ongoing crimes.

From initially pushing trolleys-full of alcohol and goods out of shop entrances, to loading baskets with the loot, their tactics are ever-changing as businesses boost security measures. Often, they work in groups, wearing Bluetooth headsets to warn one another of guards.

Currently, 63 organised crime groups who have stolen at least £2.4million in goods nationally, are being tracked by National Business Crime Solution (NBCS) - which works with over 100 retailers and police to reduce thefts. One such operation, dubbed the 'champagne gang', has looted at least £73,000 worth across the UK, including £5k stolen from Birmingham postcodes between March and June this year.

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It's thought the Romanian gang, which took advantage of the post-Covid champagne shortage, drove the goods back to Europe to be sold in Eastern European countries. Business crime prevention specialist at NBCS Sarah Bird told BirminghamLive: "This team seem to have really taken that opportunity to steal champagne from UK businesses - then to put in a new supply chain of alcohol going to the continent.

"We saw this team veer away from champagne and start stealing spirits and meat, which we know are sought-after commodities that are fairly easy for them to sell. One of the first things that they started doing was a good old trolley push where they would fill up the trolley with the desired items, they then might put bigger bulkier stock over it."

Big items like multi-packs of crisps or toilet rolls were commonly used items to hide the alcohol bottles beneath, she said, adding that they generally operate in teams of two to eight. "Generally, one person will complete the actual theft, one person or two people will act as lookouts within the store, you'll have your driver waiting not too far away, close enough to the store to put the stuff in the vehicle," she explained.

"You'll also have distractors who do things like set off the alarms; they'll make a bit of a scene to make sure that security and staff members aren't focusing on the person who's trying to steal the goods."

Thanks to technology, trolley push thefts have now become less common among the retailers she works with. "We are generally quite good as a retail sector in identifying solutions which can help protect stock and track offenders - a lot of supermarkets have wheel technology built into their trollies," she said.

"If the trolley hasn't taken a specific route around the store, the technology identifies this and then stops that trolley from actually being able to be taken out of the store; it puts a block on the trolley wheel."

The champagne gang, however, soon cottoned onto this, opting to use baskets and bags to remove items instead. "They often use Bluetooth headsets to communicate with each other, within the store and with the driver as well, if he's waiting in the vicinity, to keep each other updated. They're very organised in the way that they do this," she continued.

The ability to travel easily between countries, a "thriving marketplace" for cheap goods and the cost of living crisis all play a part in the rise in shoplifting gangs, she said. "I think it's a lot easier for people to travel round these days, to go from one country to the other, I think the market for stolen items has shot up a lot," Mrs Bird added.

"Anyone who steals to fund whatever they're funding, there has to be a marketplace for them to sell those items in the first place. Whether it's businesses or individual people, people want items for less money. There's a lot of easier options for people to sell goods as well."

Two people have so far been arrested in relation to the champagne gang, with investigations ongoing. Now, more than ever, she says it's key for businesses to work alongside police forces across the country to reduce the shoplifting offences costing retailers millions a year.

"One of the key things has to be collaboration between retail and law enforcement; there is a bigger appetite than ever for that collaboration," said Mrs Bird.

"It's encouraging to see the different policing strategies. Reporting of these incidents to police is a must, it has to be if we're going to make a dent. Even the smallest piece of intelligence is really important."

Do you run a business? Have you been affected by shoplifting or organised crime? We would like to hear from you. You can contact us by emailing stephanie.balloo@reachplc.com