A 41-year-old man has been arrested and charged following the largest individual seizure of stolen goods uncovered during South Australia’s Operation Measure retail theft initiative.
Police carried out a search at a Royal Park property on Saturday, 30 August, uncovering around 2,500 items, including 1,700 unopened boxes of Lego, valued at $250,000. Officers believe the items were stolen from department stores across the metropolitan area and were likely intended for online resale.
The haul was so extensive that Water Operations officers were called in to remove three truckloads of goods from the premises.
The man faces charges of theft and unlawful possession and is due to appear in Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on 30 September 2025.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Metropolitan Operations Service John De Candia said the arrest demonstrated the importance of collaboration between police and the retail industry.
“The size of the haul is significant and indicates the depth of the alleged offending we will allege has been taking place,” he said.
“Operation Measure will continue to target recidivist offenders we believe are responsible for the majority of the offending of this nature. This type of theft is not victimless. Those who purchase cheap goods from online sites are unwittingly facilitating this crime.”
Operation Measure combines police and retail industry efforts to identify theft patterns and target offenders, particularly those who use violence or threats. Since its inception, the operation has contributed to a decline in retail theft, with almost 6,000 offences linked to persons of interest and around 2,500 apprehensions.
Latest crime statistics for June show shoplifting offences in South Australia have fallen for the eighth consecutive period, declining six per cent from 18,343 to 17,225 offences.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
