A man and a woman have been charged during a police operation in the state's Orana region yesterday.
NSW Police Force Operation Percentile is a proactive operation using an intelligence-led approach to identify and disrupt repeat retail crime offenders, with the focus of yesterday's operation being Dubbo's CBD.
Between 6am and 7pm (Friday 8 May 2026), a team of 10 police officers conducted foot and bicycle patrols in the city's centre, liaising with owners and staff at major retail outlets in response to an increase in retail theft offences.
Commander of Orana Mid-Western Police District, Superintendent Tim Chinn, said officers had received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the public as a result of the operation.
"Operation Percentile has not only delivered strong results, it's also clear local shop owners and retail operators in Dubbo's CBD are hugely-supportive of this high-visibility police presence," Supt Chinn said.
"This is about our officers using proactive, high-visibility measures to back our business community and make safety the number-one priority.
"We urge retail operators to report any retail theft offences or other criminal activity to their local police station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000," Supt Chinn said.
Incidents of note include,
- About 1.30pm (Friday 8 May 2026), police arrested a 39-year-old man at a hotel on Macquarie Street, Dubbo, for outstanding warrants. He was taken to Dubbo Police Station where the warrants were executed, and he was additionally charged with steal from the person (value less than or equal to $2000). The man was refused bail and will face Bail Division Court 4 today (Saturday 9 May 2026).
- About 1.30pm on Friday 8 May 2026, officers arrested a 29-year-old woman at shopping centre on Macquarie Street, Dubbo. She was taken to Dubbo Police Station and charged with larceny and breach of bail. She was bail refused and will face Bail Division Court 4 today (Saturday 9 May 2026).
During the operation, police also,
- Issued two Field Court Attendance Notices (FCANs), one to a man for shoplifting, custody of a knife in a public place, and two counts of possessing prohibited drugs; and another to a woman for shoplifting and trespass.
- Conducted six person searches,
- Issued one caution for riding an e-scooter, and
- Carried out five business inspections..
Further operations are scheduled for the coming months.
