Victoria police say they made 42 arrests and recovered nearly $10,000 in stolen goods in a four-day crackdown on shoplifting this month.
Officers targeted shoplifters on Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 13-14, in the third blitz since “Project Lifter,” which cracks down on repeat and violent retail theft, was launched in December 2023.
A total of 174 arrests have been made and more than $50,000 in stolen merchandise has been recovered since the project’s inception, VicPD said.
The latest four-day sweep allowed police to apprehend an individual who had been arrested twice within an hour at two separate locations, police said.
The offender was released by the courts earlier that morning for similar charges out of Campbell River, VicPD said, adding another offender who had been arrested during the last Project Lifter campaign was arrested again this month.
Charges will be recommended for some of the offenders, while others are being referred to the restorative-justice program, police said.
Restorative justice involves offenders and those affected by the offence discussing the effects of the incident and collaboratively determining reparation.
Victoria Police Chief Del Manak said the work of Project Lifter in combating retail theft will continue.
“We are committed to addressing the long-term challenges posed by repeat and often violent theft, ensuring we send a clear message these behaviours are not acceptable,” Manak said in a statement.
