83 charges laid in two-day retail theft blitz in Shepparton

A two-day operation has caught 35 alleged shoplifters in Shepparton and Mooroopna’s retail precincts, fifteen of which are accused of being repeat offenders.

Local members from the Operation Securus team paired up with Loss Prevention Officers across a number of shopping hubs to stop thieves in their tracks from 10-11 September. Thursday saw 18 arrests made, with a further 17 on Friday. More than 83 charges have been laid collectively.

Arrests of note included:

• It is alleged a 33-year-old Shepparton man stole groceries from a supermarket on the corner of Maude and Vaughan streets in Shepparton before fleeing from police. He was arrested on Wyndham Street and charged with 15 offences, including theft and a number of failing to appear at court related matters. The man was remanded in custody to appear in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on 19 October.

• A 33-year-old Mooroopna man was arrested after Loss Prevention Officers witnessed him allegedly stealing goods from a department store on Benalla Road, Shepparton. Operation Securus members allegedly located the stolen items and a 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 15 September and was bailed to reappear at a later date.

Eight people received cautions for shoplifting, while another five were issued with Penalty Infringement Notice (PINs) for riding e-scooters within designated areas in the CBD, failing to wear helmets, and antisocial behaviour offences.

More than 150 arrests have been made in total since the effort began in May.

It will be alleged the cohort is responsible for almost $50,000 in stolen items from local shops, with the majority returned the stores.

Almost 30% of those arrested throughout the operation are recidivist offenders, with one woman arrested 17 times since the operation’s implementation.

Operation Securus was established to not only prevent shoplifting offences across Greater Shepparton, but to target prolific thieves who use aggression and intimidation tactics in an attempt to get away with their crimes.

The Operation Securus team will continue to have a highly visible presence in the CBD and retail precincts and work alongside Loss Prevention Officers to make swift arrests following thefts, as well as disrupting would-be thieves in the act.

Quotes attributable to Goulburn Valley Tasking and Coordination Inspector Anna Parkinson:

“These results demonstrate the impact our targeted, intelligence-led operations can have on retail theft across Greater Shepparton.

“35 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.

“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.

“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.

“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.”

Media Unit
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