Police are hunting a highly organised gang of professional shoplifters who are responsible for stealing at least £73,000 worth of champagne and luxury goods.
The National Business Crime Solution (NBCS) said the "mafia-style" operation, structured like a business, targets champagne to supply the thriving black market in mainland Europe, where shortages have made the product highly valuable.
Dubbed the "champagne gang" by the NBCS, the thieves typically work in teams of three, using Bluetooth headsets to stay in communication and alert each other about security staff.
They blend in with regular shoppers by pushing trolleys or carrying baskets, discreetly taking bottles of champagne from the shelves.
Police are hunting a highly organised gang of professional shoplifters who are responsible for stealing at least £73,000 worth of champagne and luxury goodsNBCSOne member of the gang intentionally triggers the security alarm to divert attention, allowing another to slip out of the store with the stolen items.
Sarah Bird, head of local services for NBCS, described the gang as operating with a clear hierarchy, with leaders giving orders and a network of members paid to carry out the thefts.
The group is said to be exploited the champagne shortage that emerged 18 months ago after post-Covid demand surged and some crops failed.
According to Bird, they are sent to specific locations with a "shopping list" of items to steal, earning a daily wage for their illicit work.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The champagne gang is just one of 63 organised crime groups across the UK responsible for stealing at least £2.4million worth of goods over the past five years, the NBCS said.
Of these groups, 26 are based in the UK and Ireland, while the majority of the others come from Eastern Europe.
Originating from Romania, the champagne gang has been involved in 60 shoplifting incidents across the UK, from Gateshead to Bournemouth, according to NBCS data.
The gang was first tracked by the NBCS, which collaborates with 100 companies to combat retail crime, in early 2023.
The NBCS said the "mafia-style" operation, structured like a business, targets champagne to supply the thriving black market in mainland Europe, where shortages have made the product highly valuable (stock image)
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Since then, the gang has expanded its focus beyond champagne, targeting other drinks and meat to meet new demands.
They have also adapted their tactics in response to countermeasures from retailers.
"They initially used trolleys to steal goods," Bird told the BBC.
"But when stores introduced trolley wheel technology that locks them at certain points, they switched to using baskets and bags."
The gang also appears to conduct training sessions, with one shop in Harrogate reporting that seven members were involved in a theft, likely as part of an effort to train new recruits.
