Police executed two search warrants at two separate residences in Victoria on February 23rd in which they found around $94,000 in stolen goods, $19,000 in cash and approximately 2.5 kilograms of drugs.
VicPD have been investigating ongoing retail theft from several businesses throughout Victoria since the beginning of January. Their latest search warrants have yielded them one of their biggest recoveries yet.
Police say they figured out that individuals would use a centralized phone number to sell stolen goods in exchange for drugs.
According to VicPD, a “dispatcher” would then appraise the stolen goods over the phone and provide a value in drugs for an exchange. From here, a driver would meet with the seller and make the exchange.
Police say that individuals working for the operation would give lists of items they wanted stolen to the individuals who were stealing for them.
On February 23rd, a residence in the 700-block of Courtenay Street downtown and a residence in the 600-block of Speed Avenue near Mayfair Shopping Centre were simultaneously searched.
Police say they found $94,000 in new retail merchandise including clothing and athletic wear, wallets, sunglasses, electronics, power tools, children’s toys and other personal accessories between the two residences as well as 2.5 kilograms of drugs including cocaine and fentanyl and around $19,000 in cash.
A security tag remover and a money counter were also found within the residences.
VicPD says this file remains under investigation.
