A dedicated retail crime team has been launched in Shepparton to tackle escalating and aggressive shop theft across the region. The new initiative, called Operation Securus, launches on 17 May and will remain ongoing. It will deploy a five-member police team working daily with retailers to investigate and disrupt repeat offenders.Police said in a press release on Friday, May 15, the focus will be on “prolific and aggressive retail thieves” who are driving most incidents in the area. Police intelligence indicates repeat offenders are responsible for more than 70% of retail theft cases in Shepparton this year.Violence and intimidation on the riseAuthorities also reported a worrying trend of offenders using intimidation and aggression against retail workers during theft incidents.Acting Superintendent Anna Parkinson, Divisional Commander for Shepparton, said the behaviour has become unacceptable. She said, “For too long retail thieves have been targeting stores, brazenly filling up trollies and taking whatever they like.”“It’s often paired with intimidation and aggression towards retail staff – which is just completely unacceptable.”She added, “Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure at work and that’s exactly what Securus is all about.”Previous operation led to 175 arrestsOperation Securus builds on earlier enforcement efforts under Operation Mosaic, which began in July 2024. That initiative resulted in more than 175 arrests for retail theft and antisocial behavior.Police said the new operation will provide a more sustained and structured response to retail crime in the region.Retail theft hits decade highRetail crime in Shepparton has reportedly reached its highest level in a decade, with 799 offenses recorded in 2025 in the local government area.In response, Victoria Police has been working with the Greater Shepparton Business Network to strengthen coordination with retailers.Real-time reporting system for shopsAs part of Operation Securus, police will use an online platform allowing retailers to report non-urgent incidents directly. The system enables instant sharing of CCTV footage and offender details, helping police link repeat offenders across multiple stores.Officers will also conduct proactive store visits to deter theft and support retail staff. The operation will initially focus on Shepparton CBD before expanding to Tatura and Mooroopna.