Criminals who profit from the sale of stolen goods are the focus of a new campaign across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, which is encouraging people to share information anonymously and help make their communities safer.
Led by the independent charity Crimestoppers, the campaign is raising awareness of the harm caused by buying, handling or selling stolen items and the impact this has on local communities, businesses and victims.
Key to the campaign is challenging the perception that buying knock-off, cheaper items is merely a harmless bargain.
Through community engagement, digital content and targeted promotional activity, the campaign will encourage residents to recognise the role that the sale and purchase of stolen goods play in supporting criminal activity and the harm it causes closer to home.
People may not always see the wider consequences of buying or selling stolen items, but it can have a lasting impact on victims who have lost far more than a valuable item. Personal information, photographs, contacts and access to essential services can all be affected, leaving people feeling vulnerable and unsafe.
Crimestoppers is urging anyone with information about stolen goods to speak up anonymously, whether they know where items are being stored, sold or distributed, or who is profiting from their sale.
The campaign also encourages people to think carefully before purchasing items being offered significantly below market value through social media platforms, online marketplaces, informal networks or other unofficial channels.
While a deal may appear attractive, it could involve stolen property and contribute to criminal gang activity that harms local businesses and communities. In some cases, goods may also be unsafe, counterfeit or not meet the standards consumers expect.
Residents are being encouraged to consider the wider impact of handling stolen goods and reminded that even a small piece of information could help. Details about where items are being sold, stored or advertised, information about vehicles, online profiles or frequent locations may all help build a clearer picture.
Contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or by visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.
