More than 120 arrests made by Shepparton retail theft team
FOUR months into Operation Securus, the Shepparton Police Taskforce has made more than 120 arrests of more than 91 alleged thieves, with more than 530 charges laid and more than $45,000 of allegedly stolen goods recovered.
Goulburn Valley Tasking and Coordination Inspector Anna Parkinson was pleased with the response and support from the retail community in Shepparton’s CBD.
“The overall feedback has been very positive. They’re (retailers) very grateful for our operation and the attendance here in the CBD. They’re very supportive of the operation and are very pleased that the offending that they’ve been witnessing for so long is now being actioned, and we’re taking action, and we will continue to take action,” said Inspector Parkinson.
“We’ve been working very closely with our retailers, so the offending or the recording of the amount of offending, probably increased because retailers now feel very comfortable coming to report those incidents to the police, whereas previously they weren’t reporting a lot of the offending. So in that regard, we’ve got a very good working relationship with our retailers now. So yes, the offending has gone up, so have the arrests and the charges.”
According to the latest crime data, retail theft increased by 50 per cent in the year ending March 2026. During Operation Securus, 28 alleged repeat offenders have been caught, with a 41-year-old Mooroopna woman arrested 17 times since the operation commenced.
“That female in particular is currently remanded and is due to face court at a later date. So that prolific offending has been dealt with and will be going before the court,” said Inspector Parkinson.
Operation Securus was established to not only reduce shoplifting offences across Greater Shepparton, but to catch prolific thieves who use aggression and intimidation tactics in an attempt to get away with their crimes.
Operation Securus will continue, with uniform members having a highly visible presence in the CBD and retail precincts.
