A 53-year-old woman is one of two people arrested over a series of high-end designer goods thefts, including designer handbags and clothing in South Yarra.
Victoria Police allege the pair targeted high-end department stores in Armadale, and Malvern East, with the first reported incident occurring in October last year.
“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,” Victoria Police said in a statement.
“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 a host of offences, including 16 counts of theft, and 21 counts of commit indictable offence while on bail.
“The financial and mental burden theft can inflict on shop owners and their staff is severe,” said Investigation and Response Inspector, Luke Holmes.
“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.”
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.
