“Stupid” thieves continue stealing booze despite security cameras now monitoring most Geelong bottleshops.
Police posted on social media more images of suspects this week after publicising a series of similar incidents in recent months.
The proliferation of security cameras has exposed the prevalence of alcohol theft in Geelong, with offenders of both sexes and various ages captured in the act.
This week’s images, on a Geelong police Facebook page, included five males pictured at Waurn Ponds.
An in-store camera captured the group in Coles Liquorland on Tuesday afternoon.
Police posted that the five would be able to “assist with this investigation”.
Comments on the Facebook post highlighted the youthful appearance of the “little skunks”.
“Stupid kids – they will now have a record,” Sandra Kelly commented.
Police also this week posted an image from 27 September of another apparently youthful male wanted for questioning over an alleged bottleshop theft.
The image was from East Geelong’s Pre Mix King, police said.
“He looks 12,” posted Kezz Forrest.
Police asked anyone with information about either alleged theft to phone Senior Constable Sean Coffey at Geelong Police Station on 5225 3100 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
The Indy has reported numerous Geelong bottleshop thefts in the past year, with images of suspects posted to social media.
The thefts have covered anywhere from a single product to a slab of beers or two dozen bottles of bourbon.
In August 2015 Geelong police’s Liquor Licensing Unit launched Relapse Strategy to curtail recidivist alcohol thieves.
The strategy allowed police to target and ban the thieves from entering liquor stores for up to 12 months.
Sixty liquor outlets signed up to the strategy, police said.
Police told the Indy that the strategy attracted interest from stations across the state.
