Vinted Faces Surge in Suspected Looted Goods After French Riots

Vinted, the Lithuania-founded secondhand online marketplace, has reported an influx of listings suspected to contain looted goods following riots across France. The unrest, which escalated over the weekend amid protests over the cost of living, saw several stores reportedly targeted, including luxury fashion outlets. Videos circulating on social media appeared to show stores belonging to Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Celine being looted, while beauty retailer Sephora confirmed that protesters had broken into several of its stores.

Vinted said it had taken immediate action to identify and remove listings linked to the looting and had strengthened its monitoring of suspicious items. The company, which prohibits the sale of stolen goods, uses reports from retailers and individuals to flag potentially illegal listings for investigation. It also confirmed that accounts violating its rules could face permanent bans and said it was actively cooperating with law enforcement agencies and French authorities.

Founded in Lithuania in 2008, Vinted has grown from a clothing-swapping service into one of Europe’s largest consumer startups, with France serving as its biggest market. The company was most recently valued at €8 billion ($9 billion) following a secondary funding round led by Swedish investment firm EQT Growth. The incident highlights the challenges faced by online resale platforms in preventing stolen merchandise from entering the secondhand market, particularly during periods of widespread unrest.

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