Warning after suspected counterfeit goods seized

Goods seized during the raid

More than £20,000 worth of suspected counterfeit goods have been seized from an address in Turf Hill following dawn raids by police and trading standards officers.
 
Officers took away three carloads containing Ugg boots, Adidas tracksuits and Calvin Klein perfume among other items following the operation in Turf Hill Road.
 
The full haul included Nike trainers, Pandora Jewellery, Beats by Dr Dre headphones and Superdry coats. The Ugg boots, which retail at around £120, were being sold for just £50.

A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possession of counterfeit goods with intent to supply.
 
Rochdale’s Trading Standards Team have since issued a warning to residents tempted by cheap deals on branded goods that they could be in a for a very un-merry Christmas if they don’t fork out for the real thing.
 
Councillor Martin Burke, Cabinet Member for Internal and Environmental Services, said: “Offers which seem too good to be true usually are. In the past our Trading Standards Team have come across Ugg boots bought cheap which have fallen apart after just one week’s worth of wear and have seized perfumes which actually have urine in them.
 
“Our message to the people of our borough is that if you buy counterfeit goods, you might find that that your gifts are past their best by New Year’s Day and that’s not a Christmas present anybody wants.”
 
Shoppers are asked to look out for the following tell tale signs, which usually indicate counterfeit goods:

• An advertised price that is significantly lower that the recommended retail price.
• An absence of security tags and labels on the goods.
• Poor quality stitching and packaging.
• Spelling mistakes on packaging. 

 
Not only are counterfeit goods of poor quality and potentially dangerous, particularly electrical goods, but there are also known links between counterfeiting and organised crime, including people trafficking and child slavery.