POLICE have sent a sharp warning to people they labelled “troublemakers looking to score themselves a five-finger discount”.
The folk in blue blitzed the Browns Plains area earlier in the month and netted four arrests of alleged shoplifters, charged with a total of seven offences.
The operation recovered a substantial number of allegedly stolen items including shoes, clothing, cat food, soft drink, stationery, toys, bikes and skateboards.
Browns Plains Police Beat Officer in Charge, Senior Constable Dave McKinnon said police would continue to work with the shopping centre’s security and Loss Prevention Officers to eliminate the problem.
“It is satisfying to see police and the retail sector work together to stop shoplifters in their tracks and recover stolen goods,” Senior Constable McKinnon said.
“If people think that shoplifting is a harmless crime and that they won’t get caught, they need to think again.”
A Slacks Creek woman, 45, was charged with two counts of stealing. It will be alleged that she stole shoes, clothing, cat food and soft drink from a grocery and department store. She is due to appear in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on December 1.
A Loganlea woman, 49, was charged with two counts of stealing. It will be alleged that she stole stationery and clothing from a grocery and department store. She is due to appear in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on December 2.
A Flagstone woman, 55, was charged with unlawfully taking goods away without making payment after allegedly stealing clothing from a department store. She is due to appear in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on December 7.
A Calamvale woman, 24, was charged with one count of stealing. It will be alleged that she stole toys, a bicycle and a skateboard from a department store. She is due to appear in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on December 9. The woman was also wanted on an outstanding warrant.
The operation involved six uniformed police officers from Browns Plains Police Station, as well as Loss Prevention Officers from retail stores.
Browns Plains Police are already planning their next shoplifting operation which will take place in the coming weeks.
