Crime Stoppers and SA Police release photos of 13 people suspected to be shoplifters
From organised groups who steal thousands of dollars worth of stock to opportunistic thieves, it’s shoplifting season – and the police have revealed key suspects.
Police & Courts
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Thieves who steal to order will be targeted as part of a new joint operation designed to stem a “theft pandemic”.
As part of the operation SA Police and Crime Stoppers SA are releasing dozens of images of suspected shoplifters in the hopes people can identify them.
A new website will launch on Tuesday where images of suspected offenders will be posted.
The combined operation was prompted after nearly 13,000 incidents of shoplifting reported across SA over the past 12 months.
Police Minister Joe Szakacs said police had many tools to help them catch offenders, particularly shoplifters.
“Don’t for one second think there is an easy way to get away with committing retail theft,” he said. “You will get caught.”
Crime Stoppers SA chief executive Nigel Smart said suspected shoplifters ranged from opportunistic thieves through to more sophisticated offenders.
The 13 ‘shoplifters’ of Christmas
“As we head towards the busiest period of the year for retailers, we are targeting opportunistic thieves, professionals who steal to order, right through to gangs who swarm a store, distract staff and make off with thousands of dollars of stock in one incident,” he said.
“Retail crime costs us all. Every single theft and robbery impacts on sustainability of a business and ultimately increases the cost of goods to consumers – and these suspects are at the forefront of that growing theft epidemic.”
Inspector Julian Coram, operations support co-ordinator for SAPOL’s metropolitan operations service, encouraged people to visit the site and try to identify the suspects.
“Most retailers have theft-prevention measures in place, comprehensive CCTV coverage and are aware of tactics employed by those people who choose to steal rather than do the right thing,” he said.
Last month police announced Operation Measure, which targeted recidivist offenders.
At the time police said they believed a spike in the cost of living and increasing prices of food and goods had led to the surge in shoplifting.
Among the items increasingly being stolen are luxury goods including quality cuts of meat, beauty products and electrical goods.
The maximum penalty for basic theft is ten years in prison while a person committing an aggravated offence, such as theft while in company or from a victim over the age of 60, faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.
The website is crimestopperssa.com.au/shoplifting
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