Shoplifters shock cops

Alex de Vos
The scale of shoplifting in Geelong has shocked police, according to an officer leading a new crackdown in the city.
Regional Response Unit Acting Senior Sergeant Peter West said police launched the blitz on shoplifters after arresting 36 people in a “shocking” two-day operation last week.
Sgt West described the results of the operation as “appalling”.
“It’s a terrible number, which indicates there’s an issue that needs to be addressed,” Sgt West said.
“It was just two days out of the year and it wasn’t a holiday period – it was absolutely appalling.”
Police recovered more than $2500 worth of stolen goods and charged offenders with a total of 46 offences during the operation.
“We recovered property ranging from cosmetics to meat from eight different stores in central Geelong and Belmont,” Sgt West said.
The alleged thieves were various ages, including 18 juveniles.
“About half will appear in Geelong Magistrate’s Court and half have been given a warning because it was their first-time offence,” Sgt West said.
He warned that shoplifters faced the full weight of the law during the new crackdown.
“Shop theft is a serious crime and offenders can expect hefty penalties and, in some cases, prison sentences,” Sgt West said.
“We will continue to work with Geelong retailers to help reduce theft and will prosecute any person found stealing to the full extent of the law.”
Sgt West struggled to explain the apparent jump in retail theft around Geelong.
“I don’t think it’s got anything to do with the economic crisis or rise in unemployment,” he said.
“It’s just the way things are – we’re going through a bad period at the moment.”
The results of last week’s operation alarmed Geelong traders.
Geelong Traders Association’s Hayden Spurling called the haul of shoplifters “quite surprising and almost frightening”.
However, Mr Spurling did not believe that Geelong was going through a spike in retail theft, instead describing it as an “ongoing issue”.
“I think you really have to be aware all the time but those results certainly keep the problem at the forefront of your mind,” he said.