A targeted police operation in Tamworth has led to five people being charged with 15 alleged offences following a spike in shoplifting across the city.
Officers attached to Oxley Police District carried out the three-day crackdown from Tuesday 24 March to Thursday 26 March, focusing on retail theft incidents in recent months.
A total of 13 officers from general duties and the Proactive Crime Team were deployed as part of the operation.
During the crackdown, police conducted 26 person searches, issued nine young people with warnings under the Young Offenders Act, and handed out 13 Criminal Infringement Notices along with 13 Field Court Attendance Notices.
Five people were charged with a total of 15 alleged offences.
In one incident, about 2.15pm on Tuesday 24 March, police arrested a 44-year-old man at a shopping centre on Kathleen Street, South Tamworth, shortly after he allegedly stole several items from a supermarket.
Police allege that during a search, officers located items believed to be stolen along with an amount of cannabis.
The man was taken to Tamworth Police Station and charged with possess prohibited drug, shoplifting and breach of bail. He was refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 5 on Wednesday 25 March.
In a separate incident about 2.20pm on Thursday 26 March, police apprehended a 32-year-old man in a carpark on Kathleen Street after he allegedly stole grocery items valued at more than $200.
He was issued a Court Attendance Notice to appear at South Tamworth Local Court on Monday 13 April, charged with shoplifting value less than or equal to $2000 and entering enclosed land without lawful excuse.
Police say further similar operations will be carried out across the region in response to ongoing retail theft concerns.
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