PLEASE NOTE: NSWPF Branded images of items seized during the operation can be found via Hightail link – https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/PrFkZC1wue
Seven people have been charged, and multiple blades have been seized during a retail theft operation in the Illawarra yesterday.
Operation Percentile is a proactive operation using an intelligence-led approach to identify and disrupt repeat retail crime offenders across the state.
The operation ran yesterday (Thursday 26 March 2026) between 8am and 4pm, in the suburbs of Wollongong and Corrimal, led by officers attached to the Wollongong Police District Proactive Crime Team.
Over the one-day operation, seven people were charged and issued with a court attendance notices and one additional person was issued with a criminal infringement notice for shoplifting and associated offences.
Notable incidents include;
About 9.20am yesterday, police responded to a shopping centre on the Princes Highway, Corrimal, following reports of a woman allegedly shoplifting. Officers responded and found a woman outside of the shopping centre allegedly in possession of a knife, threatening shop attendants, who had followed the woman.
The 19-year-old woman was arrested a short time later and a knife seized from a nearby bush. Another small blade was also allegedly located in her bag.
She was taken to Wollongong Police Station and charged with shoplifting (four counts), use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm, intimidate retail worker but not actual bodily harm and custody of a knife in a public place.
Police will allege in courts, she was involved in a further three shoplifting offences, with the grocery items totalling close to $170.00.
The woman was granted conditional bail to appear in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday 12 May 2026.
About 11.55am yesterday, police responded to a retail store on Burelli Street, Wollongong, following reports of a man shoplifting.
On arrival police arrested a 27-year-old man, with further checks allegedly showing he was in breach of bail. During the arrest police allegedly seized two stolen drinks from the man.
He was taken to Wollongong Police Station and charged with shoplifting and was refused bail to appear in Bail Division Court 3 today ( Friday 27 March 2026).
Investigations under Operation Percentile will continue.
