Stonnington detectives and Prahran uniform team up to crack down on opportunistic retail thefts
Thieves be warned, Stonnington police are cracking down on low lives looking to make life difficult for traders. And a recent operation shows they are in peak crook-catching mode. Find out how they went.
Inner East
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Thieves targeting Chapel Street’s retail precinct have been told to get out or risk being caught by two of Stonnington’s top police detectives.
Stonnington detective Senior Sergeant Rick MacDonald said his team’s recent Chapel St Blitz operation, which was held in conjunction with Prahran uniform members and ran from February 15 to 21, netted 55 offenders in just one week.
Detective Senior Sergeant Nick Densley said most thieves caught were opportunistic criminals looking for easy targets.
And Sen-Sgt MacDonald said the main aim of the extra police patrols deployed in the area as part of the operation was to help protect hard working traders and their customers.
“If they’re coming into the shops to steal, it’s a very good chance they’ll break into cars to steal property,’’ he said.
“It’s predominantly aimed at reducing retail theft at and around the Chapel St traders’ retail precinct.
“We’ve talked to (business owners) about security in their store and given them advice and they’ve put their own measures into effect.
“It’s about working with retailers and helping them to identify the people stealing from their shops.”
Of the 55people brought to police attention, 33 were caught in the first three days of the operation and 13 were remanded in custody, Sen Sgt MacDonald said.
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Most offenders were charged with theft, while others were cautioned or charged with other offences including drug possession.
Sen-Sgt MacDonald congratulated his team as well as Stonnington police uniform members for a job well done and he said similar operations would be held in the future.
“The message that we would like to convey is if you’re coming to Stonnington to steal, we’ll be ready and waiting with the traders to catch and charge you.”