Police arrested 19 people and laid 27 charges during a retail theft operation in the Illawarra yesterday.
Operation Percentile is a proactive initiative aimed at identifying and disrupting repeat retail crime offenders across the state.
Between 8am and 4pm yesterday (Tuesday 18 August 2026), plain clothes and uniformed officers attached to Wollongong Police District conducted targeted patrols throughout the Wollongong shopping precinct as part of the operation.
The proactive deployment focused on identifying known offenders, preventing retail theft, and enhancing community safety through a visible police presence.
Police allegedly detected 16 people shoplifting, 13 people of those detected were served court attendance notices and three people were served with Criminal Infringement Notices.
During the operation, officers arrested and charged a number of people with further offences including fraud, possess goods suspected of being stolen, possess prohibited drugs, breach of bail and an outstanding arrest warrant.
Notable incident includes;
About 1:45pm yesterday (Tuesday 18 August 2026), police were patrolling Denison Street, Wollongong as part of the operation when they detected a person who was allegedly stealing items from a supermarket. Officers arrested the 36-year-old man and further checks allegedly detected he was in breach of bail. He was taken to Wollongong Police station and charged with breach of bail, shoplifting, dishonestly cause a financial disadvantage and possess goods suspected of being stolen/unlawfully obtained. He was refused bail to appear in Bail Division Court 3 today (Thursday 19 August 2026). Police will allege in court the man was in possession of a stolen credit card used to purchase cigarettes, food and drink at a North Wollongong Service station on Monday 17 August 2026.
Operation Percentile continues.
