Twelve people were charged, with drugs, stolen goods and knives seized during a retail theft crackdown on the South Coast.
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 South Coast District, with assistant from Wollongong and Lake Illawarra Police Districts patrolling shops and the CBD of Bomaderry and Nowra on Monday 27 July 2026 and yesterday (Tuesday 28 July 2026), between 9am and 4pm.
The total results were achieved;
12 charges (shop lifting, drug possession, custody of a knife offences)
9 Move on directions
4 Criminal infringement notices
6 Bail Court Attendance notices
2 Breach of bail charges
Notable incidents include;
About 1.15pm yesterday (Tuesday 28 July 2026), police were conducting patrols within Nowra CBD in relation to Operation Percentile, and observed a 32-year-old man riding a bike wanted for shoplifting offences. Officers stopped the man and searched him. Police seized two knives and a club with nails attached. He was arrested and taken to Nowra Police Station. He was charged with six counts of shoplifting and three counts of custody of knife in a public place. He was refused bail to appear in Bail Division Court 3 today ( Wednesday 29 July 2026), where he was formally refused bail to appear in Nowra Local Court on Tuesday 8 August 2026. Police will allege in court he allegedly stole items from grocery stores totalling close to $260 on six occasions.
About 8.40am yesterday (Tuesday 28 July 2026) police were patrolling Nowra CBD when they sighted the 27-year-old man wanted for shoplifting offences. He was arrested and searched where police allegedly seized a small amount of cannabis. He was charged with seven counts of shoplifting value less than or equal to $2000, possess prohibited drug and breach of bail. He was granted conditional bail to appear in Nowra Local Court on Wednesday 26 August 2026. Police will allege in court the man allegedly stole items from stores in Nowra CBD on seven occasions, totalling $380.
Operation Percentile continues.
