BALACLAVA, VIC. — Two men were arrested by police following an incident yesterday, Wednesday, April 15.
Police will allege that two men entered a Camden Street supermarket and stole several items.
Lost prevention officers tried to stop the two men and recover stolen items before they were assaulted, one with a knife.
The alleged offenders fled and were quickly arrested at the Balaclava Railway Station.
A 23-year-old man was remanded in custody overnight and will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.
The Windsor man has been charged with:
• Two counts of recklessly causing injury;
• Common law assault;
• Unlawful assault;
• Assault with a weapon;
• Possession of drugs;
• Use a controlled weapon;
• Commit an indictable offence on bail.
A 26-year-old man was charged with:
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- Theft;
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- Possession of drugs and
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- Assault.
The Essendon man was bailed to the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday, May 1.
The arrest forms part of a retail theft blitz in the Port Phillip area.
Local police intelligence indicates a core group of 11 offenders is allegedly responsible for over 500 shop thefts across Port Phillip in the past year.
This equates to around 40% of all retail theft across South Melbourne, St Kilda, Port Melbourne, and Balaclava.
In the past year, local police have processed 162 shoplifters a combined 788 times.
Overall, retailers have reported the theft of more than $680,000 of stock from predominantly supermarkets and liquor outlets.
