Melbourne Police arrest 19, mostly Indians, for stealing over $10m worth of medicines, baby formula, toiletries

Melbourne Police have arrested 19 people alleged to be part of a syndicate stealing $10m worth of items from Melbourne supermarkets, ranging from medicines to baby formula products.

The alleged syndicate members were mostly Indian nationals on temporary, student and bridging visas, Victoria Police said in a statement.

According to Casey Crime Page Public, “Operation ‘Supanova’, led by the Box Hill Divisional Response Unit, uncovered an alleged syndicate that targeted major supermarket retailers, stealing more than $10 million worth of items in the past five months.”

As per reports, the items stolen include baby formula, medicines, vitamins, skincare products, electric toothbrushes and toiletries.

Those arrested are predominantly Indian nationals on temporary, student, or bridging visas. They are alleged to be working in a coordinated network to supply stolen goods to ‘receivers’, who then on-sell the products to end users for profit.

Box Hill Divisional Response Unit detectives have been working closely with major retailers and the Australian Border Force who have been notified about alleged offenders in the country on temporary visas.

As reported by Casey Crime Page Public, main arrests include:

On July 2, detectives arrested a 43-year-old man with no fixed address. He is alleged to have stolen more than $88,000 of retail items. He was remanded to appear at Ringwood Magistrates Court on August 20.

On July 7, detectives arrested a 35-year-old man with no fixed address. He is alleged to have stolen more than $90,000 of retail items. He was remanded to appear at Heidelberg Magistrates Court on August 18.

On July 17, detectives arrested a 24-year-old man with no fixed address on a bridging visa. He is alleged to have stolen more than $37,000 worth of retail items. He was remanded to appear at Dandenong Magistrates Court on August 20.

On July 30, detectives arrested a 26-year-old man with no fixed address, who is alleged to have stolen more than $95,000 of retail items. He was charged with 37 counts of theft and remanded to appear in Moorabbin Magistrates Court on September 4.

On July 30, detectives arrested a 21-year-old man with no fixed address on a student visa. He is alleged to have stolen more than $109,000 of retail items. He was charged with 45 counts of theft and remanded to appear at Moorabbin Magistrates Court on August 20.

On July 30, detectives arrested a 24-year-old man with no fixed address on a student visa. He is alleged to have stolen more than $111,000 of retail items. He was charged with 26 counts of theft and remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on September 3.

On July 30, detectives arrested a 22-year-old man with no fixed address on a student visa. He is alleged to have stolen more than $136,000 of retail items. He was charged with 54 counts of theft and remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on August 21.

On August 12, Greater Dandenong CIU, supported by Box Hill Divisional Response Unit detectives executed a warrant at an address in Springvale, where they arrested one of the alleged receivers. During the warrant, police recovered more than $25,000 worth of stolen goods. A 54-year-old Springvale woman was charged with 30 counts of stolen goods. She was bailed to appear at Dandenong Magistrates Court on December 4.

Investigations remain ongoing, with further arrests anticipated.

Retail theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in Victoria, with 41,270 offences recorded in the past year - a 38% increase state-wide. This operation forms part of Victoria Police’s crackdown on organised groups of offenders working together to steal goods and on-sell them for profit.