BEERWAH police have begun covert operations at major retailers to curb a spike in shoplifting offences.
Senior Constable Michael Collins told GC&M News that plainclothes police were deployed to Woolworths and Fresh & Save at the Village Marketplace on Wednesday, May 31.
Offenders with a range of stolen goods, including expensive meat products, were taken into custody and charged.
“There had been an increase in local thefts particularly Woolworths and Fresh and Save,” Snr Const Collins said.
“So we planned an organised operation with four plainclothes officers attached to each supermarket as well as working with their loss prevention offices.”
The officers ran surveillance throughout the centre based on the most likely day to target offenders.
“We ended up getting three offenders with further follow-ups on eight charges,” he said.
“Some were reoccurring offenders wanted previously and one wanted in connection to multiple previous offences.”
Snr Const Collins said the aim was to make the initiative part of an ongoing operation aimed at curbing an increase in shoplifting.
“There will be more of these operations in the future,” he said.
He said while some were habitual offenders others addressed cost of living issues and the price of groceries behind the motivation to steal.
“Any persons that commits these offences on local business will be dealt with accordingly and put before the court. “It’s ultimately costing businesses millions if not billions losing money through shoplifting.” Separately, a traffic blitz across Mooloolah, Beerwah and Landsborough during the show day public holiday saw 600 RBTs undertaken with a number of low alcohol readings recorded along with a driver under the influence of a drug.
While two offenders who last week allegedly broke into The Local café and bar and stole thousands in alcohol and personal items were arrested after one was identified by CCTV footage.
Main image: Senior Constable Susan Lowndes with Senior Constable Michael Collins