80 people arrested, banned from Geelong shopping centres in four-day police blitz

A large number of people have been arrested and banned from Geelong shopping centres, including a woman who allegedly hid from police in a public bathroom.

A woman is arrested by police as part of Operation Plymouth. Picture: Supplied

More than 80 people have been arrested as police swoop on Geelong’s busiest shopping centres during a school holiday blitz.

Operation Plymouth, conducted over four days, saw officers swarm retail hubs in Waurn Ponds, Corio and central Geelong.

Eighty-one people were arrested, processed and banned from the centres.

Acting Sergeant Jacob Horvath said officers targeted areas where disruptive behaviour, theft, and weapon and drug possession was known to be problematic.

Those taken into custody included a 35-year-old Norlane woman who allegedly stole various items from Westfield before running from police and hiding in a public bathroom.

She was charged with trespass, drug possession and shop theft and was remanded in custody to front Geelong Magistrates’ Court at a later date.

Police allege a 20-year-old Grovedale man also tried to flee police at Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre and was allegedly found with drugs and trafficking paraphernalia.

He was charged with shop theft, drug trafficking and possessing a drug of dependence and bailed to front the Geelong Magistrates Court at a later date.

A 15-year-old boy was banned from Westfield for 12 months and given a warning after he stole fragrances.

A 33-year-old Norlane man was arrested on drug possession, charged and bailed to front the Geelong Magistrates’ Court at a later date.

A 35-year-old Ballarat man allegedly travelled to Geelong to steal from stores in Westfield.

He was charged with shop theft and resisting a police officer and was bailed to front the Ballarat Magistrates’ Court at a later date.

Undercover officers and shopping centre security staff were also involved in the operation.

“Police in the Greater Geelong area remain unapologetic in bringing people before the courts who traffic drugs, bring knives and other weapons into shopping centres and steal high value items to support substance abuse,” Sergeant Horvath said.

He said some offenders were diverted from court, instead handed formal warnings and referrals to support services.

A similar operation in April led to 50 people being arrested and 40 banned from Westfield Geelong.

There were 1014 offences recorded in shopping complexes in Greater Geelong in the 12 months to June, according to the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency.

This was an increase from 739 offences in the previous year.

There were also 165 offences in department stores and 389 in supermarkets.

Originally published as 80 people arrested, banned from Geelong shopping centres in four-day police blitz