Goods taken by the riot looters are put on the internet

Looted goods stolen during the riots in the West Midlands are being offered for sale on the internet, it emerged today.

Thieves are advertising electrical products including mobile phones that they claim were swiped when stores were targeted.

Today, police said they were aware of people selling looted goods online and that they were working to identify and prosecute those involved.

Supt Mark Payne, from Wolverhampton police, also warned that anyone buying the mobile phones could face criminal action.

"Nationally, we've seen people up and down the country being given prison sentences for receiving stolen goods which were the product of looting," he said.

"Clearly, there is a huge police operation going on and we are looking at all markets, including the internet, for evidence of looted goods."

During the riots across the Midlands two weeks ago, hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused to shops in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and West Bromwich. So far, 509 people have been detained on suspicion of involvement in the disturbances.

Meanwhile, a 28-year-old man arrested over the murders of three men in Winson Green has been charged with perverting the course of justice. Four men have already been charged with murder.