Fifty people have been charged during Operation Percentile - a proactive police operation targeting retail crime.
Operation Percentile aims to detect, disrupt and deter retail crime offenders, with the objective of preventing stock loss, protecting customers and retail workers and deterring anti-social behaviour.
On Thursday 11 December 2025 and Friday 12 December 2025, officers attached to Central Metropolitan Region and South West Metropolitan High Visibility Units conducted patrols at major shopping precincts in Sydney's CBD and Liverpool, in conjunction with retail outlets and loss prevention staff, to target criminal offences, mainly shoplifting.
Since launching in August 2024, 1080 people have been charged under Operation Percentile, with more than 1395 offences and an estimated recovered stock value of $960,500.
During the two-day operation, 50 people were charged with 100 offences, most of which were for alleged stealings. The total value of goods intercepted during the operation was approximately $10,000.
A further 74 people were issued with move on directions and 49 were issued infringements.
Police also located and seized five weapons, including four knives and a slingshot, and made 14 drug detections.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley says Operation Percentile is having an impact.
"No one deserves to be subjected to violence or vile abuse while at work – it is not only cowardly, it's criminal.
"Operation Percentile tells the community in no uncertain terms that this behaviour is intolerable and police are making sure that offenders face the consequences.
"The NSW Police Force is working hard to crack down on retail crime and keep workers safe. In October, we launched the new Retail Crime Strategy - of which Operation Percentile is a centrepiece – and police have powers to scan people for dangerous weapons."
Assistant Commissioner Jason Weinstein APM, Commander of Capability, Performance and Youth Command said this operation is a commitment to ensuring both retailers and customers feel safe during the busiest shopping period of the year.
"Operation Percentile send a clear message that police will work to identify, deter and disrupt people responsible for theft of stock, to ensure workers and customers feel safe and to reduce financial losses to businesses," Assistant Commissioner Weinstein said.
"Police have worked closely with the entire retail sector both large and small, to protect workers, customers and the wider community.
"Retail crime will not be tolerated and anyone caught stealing or committing offences towards retail workers will be dealt with accordingly."
Incidents of note:
Incident 1: About 12pm on Friday 12 December 2025, police were called to a supermarket inside a shopping centre on George Street, Sydney, following reports of an alleged stealing and assault. Police attended and were told a 38-year-old man allegedly stole items from the store before assaulting and threatening retail workers before leaving the store. The man was located and arrested a short time later. Police located alleged stolen items in this possession, as well as an amount of methylamphetamine. He was taken to Day Street Police Station, where was charged with shoplifting, attempt stalk/intimidate intend fear of harm (personal), common assault, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not motor vehicle) and possess prohibited drug. He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 7 on Saturday 13 December 2025.
Incident 2: About 5pm on Thursday 11 December 2025, police were notified of an alleged stealing at a store inside a shopping centre on George Street, Liverpool. A 32-year-old woman was subsequently spoken to and searched, with police allegedly locating 98 stolen items worth $755 in her possession. The woman was arrested and taken to Liverpool Police Station, where she was charged with goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not motor vehicle) and shoplifting. She was granted conditional bail to appear before Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday 14 January 2026.
Incident 3: About 1.15pm on Thursday 11 December 2025, police were notified of an alleged stealing at a store in Haymarket. A 32-year-old woman was subsequently spoken to by police and arrested outside the store. She was searched, with police locating $86 worth of allegedly stolen items concealed in her clothing. The 32-year-old woman was taken to Day Street Police Station, where she was charged with shoplifting and aggravated robbery and inflict actual bodily harm in relation to a separate incident. She was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 7 on Friday (12 December 2025).
Incident 4: About 4.30pm on Thursday 11 December 2025, police were notified of an alleged stealing at a store inside a shopping centre in Glebe. Police spoke to a 35-year-old woman. She was subsequently searched with police allegedly located 41 items of clothing and manchester with a total value of $807 in her possession. She was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for shoplifting and is due to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday 13 January 2026. The woman was also issued with a 24-month banning notice from two major retailers.
Further Operation Percentile deployments are expected to roll out in the future.
