Police have charged 17 people under Operation Percentile as part of a retail theft crackdown across the Illawarra yesterday.
Operation Percentile is an intelligence-led approach to proactively identify and disrupt repeat retail crime offenders across the state.
The operation saw officers attached to the Wollongong Police District patrolling the Wollongong CBD between 8am and 4pm yesterday (Tuesday 16 June 2026).
As part of the operation, police arrested 17 people allegedly detected shoplifting groceries, alcohol and other retail items. They were charged with a number of offences including intimidation of retail workers, shoplifting, and possessing prohibited drug.
Two youth cautions were also issued for assault on a retail worker and shoplifting.
Of note, about 2:55pm yesterday (Tuesday 16 June 2026), police were patrolling in a shopping centre on Burelli Street, Wollongong, when they located a 43-year-old man allegedly stealing from a supermarket.
Police stopped the man and seized the alleged stolen grocery items.
The man allegedly became verbally aggressive towards police and a retail worker.
He was arrested and taken to Wollongong Police Station where he was charged with intimidate retail worker, shoplifting, use offensive language in public place and breach of bail.
The man was refused bail to appear at Bail Division Court 3 today (Wednesday 17 June 2026).
Investigations under Operation Percentile continue.
