Britons love illegal goods

Posted : 18-07-2006

Over £247 million worth of illegal goods are bought by Britons every year, according to research by Halifax home insurance.

Some 6.5 million adults in the UK have willingly bought stolen goods from a criminal, the data showed.

The home insurer emphasised that Britons that do purchase illegal goods are shooting themselves in the foot, as a percentage of house insurance premiums take into account claims settlements for burglary victims.

Vicky Emmott, senior underwriter at Halifax home insurance, said: "The British public has become a soft target for criminals wanting to offload stolen goods.

"Studies show that burglary can have a lasting emotional impact on victims, but people either don't make that link, or as our research indicates, they are simply happy to turn a blind eye in the face of a bargain."

Men are much more likely to buy from an illegal street vendor than women, with 48 per cent saying they would purchase goods from a criminal, compared to just 28 per cent of women.

Another survey by More Than showed that one in seven Britons who have allowed access to their homes by non-residents have had their property damaged, food eaten, or telephone used by the trusted guests.


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