By Alesha Capone
POLICE laid more than 830 shoplifting charges within the Brimbank Police Service Area during 2009/2010, the highest rate of theft from retailers within western Melbourne.
Statistics from the Victoria Police database show 837 “theft (shopsteal)” offences occurred during the period in Brimbank.
Maribyrnong had the second-highest rate of shoplifting incidents at 707, followed by Wyndham on 601, Melton at 216 and Hobsons Bay with 206.
Last week, Sunshine Senior Sergeant Mick Shaughnessy said shopstealing was “rampant” within Brimbank.
His colleague, Senior Sergeant Fred Grove, said shoplifting was “a common offence within the police service area”.
“There are different aspects of shop-stealing. Sometimes kids do it after experiencing peer pressure,” Sen Sgt Grove said.
“The stuff detected by police is only the tip of the iceberg to what’s going on.
“Shops are entitled to deal with it in the way they see fit and most shops don’t tend to report it unless an offender is apprehended.”
Sen Sgt Grove said there were many “professional shoplifters” operating throughout Melbourne, who could face anything from a caution to a court appearance if they were caught.
“From supermarkets and the like, top-end items which often get stolen are shampoos and razor blades, high-price small items which are easier to conceal,” Sen Sgt Grove said
“They’re popular because they can be re-sold through milk bars.”
In a large Brimbank investigation from September to December last year, Keilor-based police recovered around $100,000 of retail stock, including batteries through to beauty items, which were allegedly stolen from shops.
The investigation led to search warrants being executed across Brimbank and Laverton, with 17 people arrested.
The owner of the Odessa Avenue Milk Bar in Keilor Downs, Zoe Halabi, said shoplifting could be “annoying sometimes”.
“Just at school times we get stealing, not at other times,” she said.
“We’ve caught heaps of them. No matter how many cameras or mirrors you have, it can be hard to keep an eye on everyone, especially when the shop is busy.
“It’s not worth it for a can of drink or a chocolate bar to get police down here.
“It’s only lollies and stuff, so it doesn’t really affect my profits.”
