Melbourne: A 39-year-old man of Indian origin has been arrested by Victoria Police in Melbourne as part of a massive crackdown on a highly organized retail theft syndicate. The suspect, who was residing in Australia on an expired student visa, faces 87 charges, including 68 counts of theft and 19 counts of attempted theft. He is accused of stealing approximately $160,000 (roughly ₹1.35 crore) worth of high-value items, such as electric toothbrushes, vitamins, skincare products, and baby formula, over several months.
The arrest is a result of a long-term investigation that has seen authorities dismantle a “theft-to-order” network estimated to have stolen up to $10 million (₹84 crore) worth of goods from supermarkets across Melbourne, Ballarat, and Geelong. This syndicate allegedly operated by funnelling stolen stock to “receivers,” who then resold the items on the black market for significant profit. According to Victoria Police, the group frequently travelled long distances to carry out these crimes, with members often staying in the country illegally on expired or temporary visas.
Operation Supernova and Pulse
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Syndicate Bust: This crackdown is part of Operation Supernova, a major initiative by the Box Hill Divisional Response Unit that has already seen 31 people arrested.
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Wider Enforcement: Authorities are also running Operation Pulse, which has increased police presence in shopping centres across Victoria. Since December 2025, this broader effort has led to over 1,000 arrests and 2,000 charges, successfully reducing retail theft by 73% in covered areas.
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Border Force Involvement: Because several suspects, including the 39-year-old, were found to be on expired visas, the Australian Border Force is working closely with police to manage the immigration status of those involved in the criminal enterprise.
The accused remains in custody as police continue to track the “receivers” of the stolen goods. Detective Acting Inspector Rachele Ciavarella emphasized that the scale of this operation is among the most significant in recent history, aimed at stopping “industrial-scale” shoplifting that has increasingly targeted Australian retailers.
