Shepparton Police have arrested more than 100 alleged shop thieves over the past nine months in response to a sharp spike in retail crime.
Retail theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in Victoria, increasing by 37% last year. Shepparton is one of the hardest hit areas in the state for this offending - recording 480 retail theft offences in 2024 - an increase of 77%.
The rise in stores being targeted comes as many grapple with cost of living pressures driven by inflation and high interest rates.
Following the local increase in shop theft and feedback from traders, Shepparton Police commenced an orchestrated crackdown in July last year named Operation Mosaic.
This equates to around three alleged shop thieves being arrested in Shepparton every single week.
As part of this, police and plain-clothes Loss Prevention Officers have regularly swarmed the Shepparton CBD on the lookout for people looking to steal items such as high-value meat products, cosmetics, and confectionary.
Over the weekend, 31 people were arrested as part of the ongoing police blitz.
Notable incidents include:
• Police arrested a 42-year-old Shepparton man after allegedly stealing approximately $600 of packaged meats from multiple stores. He was charged with shop theft and bailed to appear at Shepparton Magistrates' Court on 11 August 2025.
• Two adults and three youths aged 17, 14 and 13 from Shepparton were arrested at a Kialla shopping centre following alleged shop theft and criminal damage to a local business. When arrested by police, one adult and one child were found to be in possession of knives, which were seized by police. They will be appearing at court at a later date.
Other people arrested as part of Operation Mosaic include people who allegedly stole items including an electric fireplace, copper piping, an LED light kit, and power tools.
Quotes attributable to Senior Constable Mitchell Bull:
"Cost of living pressures have undoubtedly contributed to a sharp rise in shop thefts across the state.
"Unfortunately, Shepparton is not immune with local hardware stores, supermarkets, liquor stores, and other small community businesses targeted.
"Once this trend became apparent, local police listened to our community, acted quickly and commenced a targeted crackdown.
"This had led to the arrest of more than 100 local shop thieves as part of Operation Mosaic- equating to almost three every single week.
"We know the names and faces of those responsible for most shop thefts in our community and will maintain a close eye on them to protect hardworking local business owners trying to earn a living."
