Victoria Police say they have dismantled an alleged organised retail crime network accused of stealing up to $10 million worth of goods from supermarkets across the state, with 31 people arrested following a months-long investigation.
Police allege the group operated a coordinated “theft-to-order” model, targeting high-value items such as baby formula, vitamins, skincare products and electric toothbrushes, which were then passed on to receivers and sold on the black market for profit.
Superintendent Matthew Baynes described the operation as one of the largest of its kind.
“This has been one of our largest operations in relation to retail theft,” he told A Current Affair, adding that the crimes were far from victimless.
“It impacts businesses, and ultimately those costs are passed on to consumers.”
The investigation, led by the Box Hill Divisional Response Unit, has already resulted in 18 offenders being jailed, while 10 others remain before the courts.
In one case, a 39-year-old Indian man – allegedly in Australia on an expired visa – is accused of stealing about $160,000 worth of goods over several months. He has been charged with 68 counts of theft and 19 counts of attempted theft and is yet to face court.
Authorities allege the syndicate targeted supermarkets across Melbourne, Ballarat and Geelong, often travelling long distances to carry out coordinated thefts.
Earlier phases of the investigation, including Operation Supernova, focused on similar alleged networks, with police claiming some groups involved international students on temporary visas.
Victoria Police say retail theft remains one of the fastest-growing crime categories in the state, with offences rising significantly in the past year.
Superintendent Baynes said while cost-of-living pressures may be a factor, organised syndicates were driving large-scale theft. “This is industrial-level offending,” he said.
The crackdown forms part of broader enforcement efforts, including Operation Pulse, which has seen increased police presence in shopping centres and more than 1,000 arrests linked to retail crime and associated violence.
Investigations into the syndicate remain ongoing.
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