More than 150 people have been arrested during an operation targeting shoplifting across Sydney’s central metropolitan region.
Operation Light Fingers is a targeted shoplifting operation conducted between Thursday 8 December and Saturday 10 December 2022, involving officers from the Central Metropolitan High Visibility Policing (HVP) Unit, with assistance from Eastern Suburbs, Eastern Beaches, Leichhardt, Sydney City and Sutherland Police Area Commands.
A total of 155 people were arrested across the three-day operation, resulting in 98 charges being laid and 97 Criminal Infringement Notices issued.
Items of note include:
- A 20-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly stealing perfume and clothes worth $850 from a store in Bondi Junction. She was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice to attend Waverley Local Court on 24 January 2022.
- When a 37-year-old man was arrested at a store at Redfern for allegedly shoplifting, checks revealed he was also wanted for a number of alleged break and enter offences in the South Sydney Police Area Command. He was taken to Mascot Police Station where he was charged. He was bail refused to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Monday 12 December 2022.
- A 38-year-old woman was arrested at a store at Redfern for allegedly shoplifting. She was taken to Mascot Police Station where she was charged with stealing and has been refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Monday 12 December 2022.
- A 40-year-old man was arrested at a store at Redfern for allegedly shoplifting. He was taken to Mascot Police Station where he was charged with stealing and was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Monday 12 December 2022.
- A 51-year-old man was arrested at a store in Eastgardens for allegedly shoplifting. He allegedly attempted to conceal items worth about $360 within his vehicle before being stopped by shop employees. Police issued the man with a Court Attendance Notice to appear at Waverley Local Court in early 2023.
- A 41-year-old woman was arrested at a store in Eastgardens for allegedly stealing beauty products worth $1100. She was taken to Maroubra Police Station where she charged with stealing and refused bail.
- A 27-year-old man was arrested at a store at Eastgardens for allegedly stealing $1200 worth of baby formula. Checks revealed the man was also wanted on two outstanding warrants. He was taken to Maroubra Police Station where he was charged with six counts of shoplifting and seven counts of trespass and was refused bail.
- A 53-year-old woman was arrested at a store at Redfern for stealing, trespass, custody of a knife and breach of bail. She was taken to Mascot Police Station where she was charged with a number of offences and refused bail.
Similar operations are expected to continue.
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