Stonnington Crime Investigation Unit have arrested a man and woman following a series of high-end designer goods thefts, including designer handbags and clothing.
Police will allege the pair targeted high-end department stores in South Yarra, Armadale, and Malvern East with the first reported incident occurring on 3 October 2022.
The male offender was allegedly observed entering a clothing store in Chadstone where he selected a number of clothing items, then fled on foot without making any payment.
During a routine patrol yesterday, an Operation Bird unit observed a wanted vehicle in Palmerston Crescent, South Melbourne at about 12.30am.
Police tracked the owner of the vehicle to a nearby apartment complex where the pair were arrested, and a search warrant executed.
During the warrant police seized a small quantity of drugs believed to be heroin and allegedly stolen clothing, vehicle registration plates and identification documents.
As part of the investigation detectives executed additional search warrants in Wyndham Vale and Footscray where allegedly stolen clothing items, from several stores, was seized.
The pair, a 46-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman from Wyndham Vale, have been charged with:
• shop theft (x16)
• handle stolen goods (x2)
• negligently deal proceeds of crime
• possess heroin
• possess buprenorphine
• deal property suspected proceeds of crime
• contravene a court order
• fail to answer bail
• commit indictable offence whilst on bail (x21).
The 46-year-old man was remanded in custody to appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court today.
The woman has been bailed to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court in May.
Quotes attributed to Investigation and Response Inspector Luke Holmes:
"The financial and mental burden theft can inflict on shop owners and their staff is severe.
"Police will use all available intelligence, from CCTV to Automatic Number Plate Recognition, to identify suspect vehicles, track down their owners and hold offenders to account."
