- Published:
- Sunday, 29 June 2025 at 9:32 pm
Shoplifters, drug traffickers, and anti-social troublemakers remain firmly in the sights of police on Chapel Street, with almost 130 people arrested on the popular strip this year.
The arrests are a result of two coordinated operations targeting key issues along Chapel Street – retail theft (Operation Traders) and anti-social behaviour surrounding the street’s nightspots (Operation Safenight).
Cost of living pressures have driven retail theft to historic levels across the state – increasing by 39% over the past year.
With Chapel Street situated in the heart of the suburb, it is unsurprising that Stonnington is in the top ten hardest hit areas for shoplifting in the state. As a result, shoplifting is the most common crime on the strip – accounting for almost 30% of all crime.
Prahran Police have run a series of operations this year targeting shoplifters around supermarkets, liquor stores, and clothes shops on Chapel Street, leading to 65 arrests.
80% of those arrested were repeat shoplifters, with one man linked to 147 shop stealing incidents during his lifetime. A third of all retail theft on Chapel Street this year relates to alcohol theft, with food and clothing also commonly stolen.
Among those caught by police and plain clothed Loss Prevention Officers this year include:
• Over five days in April, a 50-year-old man allegedly stole 21 bottles of alcohol worth around $415 from a liquor store on Chapel Street. He was arrested and charged with 13 counts of shop steal, and 14 counts of commit indictable offence whilst on bail. He was bailed to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 23 July.
• Last week, police arrested 10 alleged thieves on Chapel Street in one day. This included a 24-year-old man who allegedly stole a jumper from a clothing store. When arrested, police found a meat cleaver and allegedly stolen energy drinks and toilet paper in his backpack. Other people were arrested for stealing items including prawns, doughnuts, dehydrated mangoes and a light bulb.
Despite crimes against the person such as robberies and assaults decreasing by almost 20% on Chapel Street, local police have retained a strong focus on keeping the strip’s pubs, clubs and restaurants safe.
Every Friday and Saturday night, police are out in force as part of Operation Safenight, with uniform and plain clothes officers, Highway Patrol, and liquor licensing officers saturating Chapel Street and the surrounding area.
Almost 3,000 policing hours have been dedicated to the operation this year, with more than 55 arrests made. Dozens of compliance checks have also been conducted at licensed premises – ensuring venues are maintaining a safe environment for patrons.
Key arrests this year include:
• At 3.30pm on 15 June, a vehicle bearing false plates was seen driving down Chapel Street. When police attempted to intercept the car, the driver allegedly fled on foot and was arrested shortly after. He was allegedly found in possession of knuckle dusters, methamphetamine and more than $18,000 in cash, while a search of the vehicle uncovered an extendable baton. The 35-year-old man was charged with trafficking and possessing a drug of dependence, possess proceeds of crime, handle stolen goods, make or use false documents, and two counts of possess prohibited weapon. He was remanded to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 8 September.
• At 2am on 1 June, a 19-year-old man was removed from a licensed premises on Toorak Road, Toorak. Soon after, he approached a man who was not known to him and without provocation, allegedly headbutted the man, causing a broken nose and a broken tooth. Officers from Operation Safenight were quickly on scene and arrested the man, who was charged with recklessly cause injury, and unlawful assault. He was bailed to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 20 August.
• Just before 3am on 21 June, a vehicle was allegedly driven around a police officer who had directed the driver to enter an RBT site at the intersection of Chapel Street and Dandenong Road. The vehicle was then driven through a red light. Police followed the vehicle and arrested the P-plater driver, who returned a positive breath test between 0.07 and 0.10. He received an infringement notice, and his probationary licence was immediately suspended.
There was an even stronger injection of police last weekend, with the Public Order Response Team (PORT), Transit Police, Mounted Branch, Dog Squad, Highway Patrol, and State Liquor Licencing Unit, joining local police.
During the 20-hour operation, police dealt with more than 400 people, made nine arrests, intercepted 355 vehicles and conducted more than 300 preliminary breath tests.
Sheriffs identified 31 motorists with unpaid fines and clamped 12 vehicles, totalling almost $410,000. $101,000 of those fines were paid in full on the day.
Similar operations will be conducted in the future.
Quotes attributable to Stonnington Local Area Commander Inspector Georgie Swinton:
“Victoria Police is out in force on Chapel Street every single weekend – ensuring people get home safely.
“Local officers quite literally work around the clock to keep the community safe; and while day and night present unique challenges, we are always ready to respond.
“It’s impossible to measure how much crime is prevented by the presence we have around Chapel Street nightlife each weekend, however serious crimes against the person are certainly trending in the right direction.”
Quotes attributable to Prahran Police Sergeant Angie Le Sueur:
“Retail theft not only hurts businesses, but there is a negative flow-on effect for all consumers and customers in the form of higher prices at the checkout.
“We hope our presence not only prevents shoplifting, but also encourages behaviour change among those involved.
“Times are tough for a lot of people; however, stealing is never the answer.
“Having a criminal record can affect current or future employment and will leave a smear on your name for the rest of your life.”
Media Unit
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