Shepparton police’s Operation Securus team carried out a two-day operation in Shepparton and Mooroopna, where they caught the alleged thieves, 15 of whom they believe to be repeat offenders.
During the operation, from Thursday, September 10 to Friday, September 11, local police joined forces with loss prevention officers at retail precincts.
On the Thursday, they made 18 arrests, with a further 17 alleged thieves caught on the Friday.
Between them, 83 charges were laid, including 15 on a 33-year-old Shepparton man alleged to have stolen groceries from Shepparton CBD’s Coles supermarket before fleeing police.
He was arrested on Wyndham St before being charged with theft and several matters related to failing to appear at court.
The man was remanded in custody to appear in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court in October.
“Thirty-five arrests and 83 charges laid in just two days shows there is a problem, and local police are doing everything they can to reduce the harm caused by retail theft,” Goulburn Valley Tasking and Co-ordination Inspector Anna Parkinson said.
“The theft itself is bad enough, but when paired with threats, intimidation and in some circumstances violence, it is clear we must do everything we can to stamp out this issue.”
A 33-year-old Mooroopna man was also arrested during the blitz, after loss prevention officers witnessed him allegedly stealing goods from a department store on Benalla Rd, Shepparton.
Police found the allegedly stolen items, as well as an alleged traffickable quantity of methylamphetamine, on the man.
He was charged with six offences, including trafficking and possessing methylamphetamine, theft, handling stolen goods and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
He appeared at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on September 15 and was bailed to reappear at a later date.
Eight people received shoplifting cautions, while five were issued penalty infringement notices for riding e-scooters within designated areas in the CBD, failing to wear helmets, and antisocial behaviour offences.
“These results demonstrate the impact our targeted, intelligence-led operations can have on retail theft across Greater Shepparton,” Inspector Parkinson said.
“The impact of this offending is far reaching. It clearly has a financial element, but beyond that is the lasting effects this can have on the mental, physical and emotional wellbeing of staff and members of the public who are victims and witnesses.”
More than 150 arrests have been made since Operation Securus began in May.
Police allege almost $50,000 of items have been stolen from local shops in that time, with the majority returned to the retailers.
Almost 30 per cent of those arrested throughout the operation are believed to be repeat offenders, with one woman arrested 17 times since the beginning of the operation.
“It’s our mission to keep the community safe, and through operations such as Securus and collaborative efforts with local businesses we’re working to ensure our area is a safe place for people to work, shop and visit,” Inspector Parkinson said.
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