A Victoria Police operation targeting retail theft in Shepparton has uncovered evidence of organised offending and led to more than 200 arrests; authorities have laid more than 800 charges since May. Superintendent Anna Parkinson said the offending was to feed drug habits and use goods to run some kind of illegal business, while Greater Shepparton Business Network vice-president Jac McCarty praised the operation and said stronger bail laws were needed to stop reoffending.
Operation Securus was launched in May by Victoria Police, who began daily patrols through Shepparton's shopping district to target repeat offenders after shoplifting rates reached a 10-year high.
Police said the operation had uncovered a level of “organisation” behind the offending. “We're not seeing people stealing bread and milk to feed their families,” Superintendent Anna Parkinson said. “The offending that's being done here is to feed drug habits and use the goods to run some kind of illegal business.”
Police have arrested 130 people, with some arrested multiple times. About 15 per cent were repeat offenders, including a 42-year-old Mooroopna woman who had been arrested 21 times and later sentenced to 70 days in prison. Almost $50,000 worth of stolen goods have been returned. In a separate investigation, drugs including cannabis and methamphetamine were seized from a Shepparton property in September.
Greater Shepparton Business Network vice-president Jac McCarty described the police blitz as “fantastic” for retailers but said stronger bail laws were needed to prevent reoffending. “Whilst these results are pleasing, it is also disappointing to note the number of reoffenders who are being let back out to continue these behaviours,” she said. McCarty said police should follow through on the promise to expand the operation beyond the Shepparton CBD later this year, and that reports from Tatura and Mooroopna were concerning. “Our retailers have been threatened and left scared in their workplaces, repeat offenders are brazenly returning for more, and money is needing to be spent on security by businesses that are already fighting hardships,” she said.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The operation shows the scale of organised retail theft in regional areas, affecting local businesses and community safety.
- It highlights links between property crime and drug addiction, pointing to broader social issues.
- The call for bail law reform may influence state policy if reoffending remains high.
Background
Shepparton's shoplifting rates had reached a 10-year high, prompting Victoria Police to launch Operation Securus in May 2026. The operation focused daily patrols on the town's shopping district and has continued through the year.
Key Perspectives
Police (Supt Anna Parkinson): Says the offending is organised and driven by drug habits and illegal business, not basic need.
Greater Shepparton Business Network (Jac McCarty): Welcomes the police results but says bail laws must be strengthened to stop repeat offenders being quickly released.
What to Watch
- Expansion of Operation Securus to areas beyond the Shepparton CBD later in 2026.
- Possible state government response to calls for bail law reform.
- Whether further drug seizures and arrests indicate larger criminal networks.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- Partly supportedThe headline says police uncovered organised theft in Shepparton.Just In: “Police say an operation targeting retail theft in Shepparton has uncovered evidence of organised offending”
- Partly supportedThe headline attributes a call for tougher bail laws to the business group.Just In: “Greater Shepparton Business Network vice-president Jac McCarty said the police blitz had been "fantastic" for retailers. However, she said stronger bail laws were needed to stop reoffending.”
- SupportedOperation Securus led to more than 200 arrests.Just In: “Police say an operation targeting retail theft in Shepparton has uncovered evidence of organised offending and led to more than 200 arrests.”
- SupportedAlmost $50,000 worth of stolen goods were returned during the operation.Just In: “Authorities said almost $50,000 worth of goods stolen from supermarkets, liquor stores and other shops had been returned during the operation.”
- SupportedAuthorities laid more than 800 charges since May.Just In: “Victoria Police launched Operation Securus in May, sending police on daily patrols through the town's shopping district to target repeat offenders after shoplifting rates reached a 10-year high. Authorities have laid more than 800 charges”
- SupportedPolice said the operation uncovered a level of “organisation” behind the offending.Just In: “Authorities have laid more than 800 charges, whilst also uncovering a level of "organisation" behind the ongoing offending.”
- SupportedSuperintendent Anna Parkinson said, “We're not seeing people stealing bread and milk to feed their families.”Just In: “"We're not seeing people stealing bread and milk to feed their families," Superintendent Anna Parkinson said.”
- SupportedSuperintendent Anna Parkinson said the offending was to feed drug habits and use goods to run some kind of illegal business.Just In: “"The offending that's being done here is to feed drug habits and use the goods to run some kind of illegal business."”
- SupportedPolice arrested 130 people during the operation.Just In: “Police arrested 130 people, of whom about 15 per cent were repeat offenders”
- SupportedMcCarty described the blitz as “fantastic” for retailers.Just In: “Greater Shepparton Business Network vice-president Jac McCarty said the police blitz had been "fantastic" for retailers.”
- SupportedMcCarty said, “Whilst these results are pleasing, it is also disappointing to note the number of reoffenders who are being let back out to continue these behaviours.”Just In: “"Whilst these results are pleasing, it is also disappointing to note the number of reoffenders who are being let back out to continue these behaviours," she said.”
- SupportedMcCarty said retailers had been threatened and left scared, repeat offenders were returning, and businesses were spending on security despite hardship.Just In: “"Our retailers have been threatened and left scared in their workplaces, repeat offenders are brazenly returning for more, and money is needing to be spent on security by businesses that are already fighting hardships," she said.”