Police seize baby formula and allegedly stolen goods following raids in Bankstown, Condell Park, Milperra and Liverpool
Three people have been charged after police seized tins of baby formula and cash following raids across south west Sydney.
The Express
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Police have seized $175,000 worth of what is believed to be stolen goods — including tins of baby formula — following raids across south west Sydney.
Thi Dung Ngyen, 53, of Punchbowl, Adele Brown, 26, Homebush West and Jeff Raharuhi, 28, of Homebush West have been charged over the alleged shoplifting of tins of baby formula and electric toothbrushes, mainly from Coles stores in Clemton Park, Leichhardt, Brighton Le Sands, Ramsgate and Hurstville over several weeks.
Redfern Region Enforcement Squad officers attached to Operation Lightfingers arrested them after an investigation into large-scale theft of baby formula from supermarkets and independent grocers across Sydney in October.
Detectives – with assistance from Bass Hill Region Enforcement Squad – executed four search warrants at two businesses at Bankstown, a warehouse at Milperra, and a home in Condell Park, just after 4pm on Wednesday.
During the searches, officers allegedly seized more than $55,000 cash, and allegedly stolen goods, including baby formula, cosmetics and groceries, with a total value of more than $175,000.
A short time later, detectives arrested Thi Dung Ngyen, Adele Brown and Jeff Raharuhi at a carpark on Canterbury Rd, Bankstown. They were later were taken to Bankstown police station.
A fifth search warrant was carried out at a motel room at Liverpool on Thursday, where officers allegedly seized a ‘gel blaster’ firearm, a baton and steroids.
Raharuhi and Brown have been charged with 15 counts of larceny, and six counts of dispose property-theft (serious indictable offence).
Police will allege in court the pair stole tins of baby formula and electric toothbrushes worth more than $10,000 from supermarkets and retail stores across Sydney on 21 separate occasions.
According to the police statement tendered to Bankstown Local Court on Thursday, Brown allegedly stole several tins of baby formula, including 20 from Coles at Hurstville on November 3 and 17 from Coles on October 22 at Clemton Park.
Raharuhi — whose address is listed as the same as Brown — is alleged to have stolen baby formula and electric toothbrushes from Coles stores in Leichhardt, Brighton Le Sands, Hurstville and Clemton Park over several days.
Ngyen was charged with six counts of dispose property-theft (serious indictable offence), knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, and goods suspected stolen in/on premises.
Police will allege in court that the woman was receiving the stolen goods to on-sell for financial benefit.
Ngyen was granted bail at Bankstown Local Court on Thursday but did not meet the conditions of two people coming up with $5000 each.
Brown received bail and is next due in court on Thursday, December 5.
Raharuhi did not apply for bail and is in custody. He is to appear before Bankstown Local Courts on Friday.