Police have arrested four teenagers following the execution of three warrants in the western suburbs on Friday (12 July).
The four have been charged with over 16 offences of theft occurring between the 21 June and 9 July, 2019.
The alleged thefts were conducted on a number of electronic and telecommunication stores throughout the metropolitan area, including Thomastown, Sunshine, Airport West, Prahran, Brunswick and Altona North.
The offences were allegedly committed when a number of offenders swarm into a shop and grab property, usually mobile phones, and run from the store.
Police executed search warrants at three addresses in Point Cook, Tarneit and Truganina, arresting the four boys aged 16, 15 and two aged 14 years.
Investigators also recovered a range of electronic devices believed to have been stolen in the thefts.
The boys have been charged with theft and are expected to appear at a children's court at a later date.
Regional Crime Squads have been working together in disrupting this type of offending and a special task force, Taskforce Liega, is being established this week which will have a state-wide focus on swarming offences.
Commander Tim Hansen, who has been appointed to oversee the Taskforce, said that the formation of the task force was to ensure there is swifter response to those who commit this type of crime.
"We recognise that this type of offending creates fear in the community and risks the safety of the employees, "he said.
"Taskforce Liega will assist us in identifying offending patterns and deploying detectives earlier so as to ensure a quicker apprehension of the offenders."
