An alleged organised retail theft syndicate mainly made up of Indian immigrants has been dismantled after allegedly stealing $10 million worth of goods from supermarkets around Melbourne.
Victoria Police said on Friday that the 19 people arrested by Operation Supernova so far were predominantly Indian nationals on temporary, student or bridging visas, and that the alleged syndicate was one of the largest seen in recent times.
“They are alleged to be working in a coordinated network to supply stolen goods to ‘receivers’, who then on-sell the products to end users for profit,” police said, adding that retail theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in Victoria and up 38% state-wide.
The alleged syndicate targeted major supermarket retailers across metropolitan Melbourne, allegedly stealing items such as baby formula, medicines, vitamins, skincare products, electric toothbrushes and toiletries, police said.
The main arrests include:
- A 43-year-old man with no fixed address. He is alleged to have stolen more than $88,000 of retail items. He was remanded to appear at Ringwood Magistrates Court on 20 August.
- A 35-year-old man with no fixed address. He is alleged to have stolen more than $90,000 of retail items. He was remanded to appear at Heidelberg Magistrates Court on 18 August.
- A 24-year-old man with no fixed address on a bridging visa. He is alleged to have stolen more than $37,000 worth of retail items. He was remanded to appear at Dandenong Magistrates Court on 20 August.
- A 26-year-old man with no fixed address, who is alleged to have stolen more than $95,000 of retail items. He was charged with 37 counts of theft and remanded to appear in Moorabbin Magistrates Court on 4 September.
- A 21-year-old man with no fixed address on a student visa. He is alleged to have stolen more than $109,000 of retail items. He was charged with 45 counts of theft and remanded to appear at Moorabbin Magistrates Court on 20 August.
- A 24-year-old man with no fixed address on a student visa. He is alleged to have stolen more than $111,000 of retail items. He was charged with 26 counts of theft and remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on 3 September.
- A 22-year-old man with no fixed address on a student visa. He is alleged to have stolen more than $136,000 of retail items. He was charged with 54 counts of theft and remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on 21 August.
- Greater Dandenong CIU, supported by Box Hill Divisional Response Unit detectives executed a warrant at an address in Springvale, where they arrested one of the alleged receivers. During the warrant, police recovered more than $25,000 worth of stolen goods. A 54-year-old Springvale woman was charged with 30 counts of handle stolen goods. She was bailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates Court on 4 December.
Detective Acting Inspector Rachele Ciavarella said: “This has been one of the most significant operations we’ve undertaken in recent times to target organised retail theft.
“We will allege this syndicate are not only stealing for themselves, but they are part of a coordinated criminal enterprise profiting from stolen goods.”
The Australia Border Force has been notified about the alleged offenders on temporary visas.
Header image credit: Victoria Police.
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