New team secures retail safety in Shepparton

A new retail theft team will this week hit the streets in Shepparton to target prolific and aggressive retail thieves.

The operation, named Securus, will see a dedicated team of police working daily with major and independent retailers to investigate and hold to account retail thieves.

The team of five will focus their efforts on repeat and aggressive offenders who are causing the most harm in the local retail industry.

Police intelligence shows repeat offenders have committed more than 70 per cent of all retail thefts in Shepparton this year.

It also shows more offenders are using intimidation and aggression towards retail staff to get away with their crimes.

The new operation will build on the work of Operation Mosaic – an ad hoc operation which began in July 2024 – which has seen more than 175 arrests for retail theft and anti-social behaviour.

Recent arrests include:

• A 14-year-old girl who allegedly threw glass objects at staff when confronted for stealing from a department store on 23 February and again at a chemist on 25 February. A few weeks later she allegedly threw an open 1.25 litre bottle of soft drink at a staff member while leaving a supermarket on 5 March. She has been charged with six counts of shop theft, recklessly causing injury and throwing a missile to injure a person, and will appear before a children’s court at a later date.

• A 32-year-old Shepparton man who allegedly stole more than $5500 worth of goods including electronics, a chainsaw, a bike, alcohol and groceries from Shepparton stores between March and May this year. He has been charged with 12 counts of shop theft and will appear before Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on 15 June.

• A 20-year-old man who allegedly stole more than $750 worth of alcohol from bottle shops across Shepparton and Mooroopna between January and March. He was charged with 15 counts of shop theft and was remanded to appear before Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on 25 May.

The focus comes as retail theft last year reached decade highs in the Shepparton local government area – with 799 offences recorded in 2025.

In response, Victoria Police has been working closely with the Greater Shepparton Business Network to develop a dedicated policing response.

As part of Securus, police will use an online platform to engage daily with retailers.

The platform allows retailers to notify police working on the operation directly when a non-urgent incident occurs.

The notification instantly provides police with important information such as CCTV and descriptions of offenders.

It also allows retailers to share intelligence which will help police link offenders targeting multiple stores.

On top of investigating crime, the team will also proactively attend stores to engage with retail staff and deter theft.

This includes independent retailers who too are a priority for Securus.

Operation Securus launches on 17 May and will remain ongoing.

It will focus initially on the Shepparton CBD before expanding to the Tatura and Mooroopna areas.

Anyone with information about retail crime is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Quotes attributable to Acting Superintendent Anna Parkinson, Divisional Commander for Shepparton:

“For too long retail thieves have been targeting stores, brazenly filling up trollies and taking whatever they like.

“It’s often paired with intimidation and aggression towards retail staff – which is just completely unacceptable.

“We’ve been focused on retail crime for some time, with a targeted operation resulting in 175 arrests, but it has become clear that we need a more dedicated response.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure at work and that’s exactly what Securus is all about.

“The team will be working daily with local retailers to target recidivist thieves who are not just doing petty thefts but stealing large amounts of high value goods.

“To the people who think they can steal and use intimidation tactics to get away with it, know that your time is up, and you will be held to account.”

Media Unit

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