Specialist police team arrests dozens of youths over JB HiFi swarming thefts
A specialist police team has been set up to combat the epidemic of swarming thefts targeting JB HiFi and other retail stores across Melbourne, leading to more than 30 arrests.
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Dozens of teens have been arrested as police continue to crack down on youths following a spate of terrifying swarming attacks on retail stores across Melbourne.
A specialist squad of 10 officers formed the Offender Management Team (OMT) three weeks ago, so far arresting 37 ‘high priority’ offenders and executing 54 arrest warrants.
The team was set up to assist detectives in Melbourne’s west so they could keep investigating new swarming attacks while the OMT work to locate, catch and charge offenders.
Group swarming theft hits have become commonplace at shopping centre retail outlets including JB Hi-Fi over the past six months.
OMT Acting Senior Sergeant Brad Colbert told the Herald Sun his Caroline Springs and Sunshine based team was making arrests every day.
“We’ve done quite well in the first three weeks,” he said.
“On a daily basis we are out there, our crew’s out there arresting offenders and we’re holding them to account. “
The team is working alongside Taskforce Wayward, who identify the offenders and pass on intelligence to the OMT who then track the teens down, make arrests and enforce bail conditions.
“It’s quite a big problem in our area,” Acting Snr Sgt Colbert said.
“We do find that a lot of youths don’t comply with their bail conditions.”
He said most parents he spoke with did not even know their kids were committing crimes.
His team arrested three people on Monday morning, including two 19-year-olds who had been wanted by police for more than a year.
North West Metro Commander David Clayton said there were a string of offences over the weekend.
“Over the last weekend, we have seen a group who have been highly mobile moving around from Malvern, across Brunswick, Hoppers Crossing,” he said.
“They’ve moved very quickly through using maybe stolen cars, entered different types of stores.”
Commander Clayton added: “Offenders are predominantly youth who are prepared to arm themselves.”
A JB Hi-FI spokesman told the Herald Sun the company was working closely with police to minimise the issue.
“JB Hi-Fi takes very seriously the recent thefts in a number of its Victoria stores,” a company spokesman said.
The electronics chain has been so affected by the scourge, they have removed Apple products from displays in multiple stores.
Two 14-year-olds were arrested this morning for their alleged parts in a hit at shop at Barkly Square in Brunswick on Sunday afternoon.
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Detectives believe some kids grabbing the expensive electronics from JB Hi-Fi stores in group attacks may be stealing to order.
Others are were acting on peer pressure and stealing things because they wanted them for themselves.
Operation Burns, which ran from July to September, saw 34 offenders aged between 13 and 19 years old between July and September over swarming offences.
More than 150 charges were laid.