Looting 'fuelled by social exclusion' | UK news. Looters targeted large chain stores including Foot Locker in Brixton, south London. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA After the riots came the looting. Across London windows were smashed, and shops emptied. On Monday experts said social exclusion and the breakdown of law and order could have spurred looters to disregard social norms. "Many of the people involved are likely to have been from low-income, high-unemployment estates, and many, if not most, do not have much of a legitimate future," said criminologist and youth culture expert Professor John Pitts. Unlike most people, some of those looting had no stake in conformity, he said. On much of the footage of the widespread theft after the riots, looters can be seen brazenly taking the goods they want, some without taking the precaution of covering their face. One north London resident, who wanted to be identified only as Tiel, described a conversation: "I heard two girls arguing about which store to steal from next.
Model sisters weep as they are caged for six months for looting in an Argos store. HQ Interview With Looters & Rioters In London. Tottenham riots - the truth. UK riots: 'We don't want no trouble. We just want a job' | UK news. Alex is standing outside the "peace wall" in Peckham, a woodchip board covering the broken window of Rye Lane's Poundland, which is full of messages of community solidarity. His explanation for why he was at the riots is rather less civil minded. "For some people, they just wanted fun innit? … I was standing there seeing police getting ripped [attacked] and that. It was entertainment," he says. The 22-year-old freelance builder and father of one, says he did not take part in the looting and in no way condones the arson attack on Gregg's bakery up the road but adds with a glint that it will boost his income.
"I'm working on that [repair] job tomorrow so it's given me a bit of extra work. " He cites police harassment and the death of Mark Duggan in Tottenham as reasons for why people flooded on to the streets. He said: "People get together in a group and commit acts of violence that they would never dream of committing individually. "This is the violent version of the Mexican wave" he said. London rioters point to poverty and prejudice. London rioters resent media image of hooded teen thug. 'Riot yobs can't hide' Olympics girl Chelsea Ives, 18, ‘trashed cop car'