A 27-year-old man has been charged with 38 offences following an investigation into a series of alleged shoplifting incidents across Port Stephens.
Officers from the Port Stephens-Hunter Police District began investigating reports of thefts from retailers in the Salamander Bay and Nelson Bay areas in July.
Following inquiries, police arrested the man on Pirralea Parade at Nelson Bay about 8.30pm on Saturday 8 August.
He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with 38 offences, including 29 counts of shoplifting, five counts of destroying or damaging property, three counts of larceny and one count of common assault.
Police will allege the offences occurred over a period of about eight months and involved more than $11,000 worth of products stolen from retail stores.
The man was refused bail and was due to appear before Bail Division Court 2 on Sunday 9 August.
Port Stephens-Hunter Police District Inspector David Donovan said shoplifting had a broader impact beyond individual retailers.
“Any form of stealing impacts individuals, businesses and the local community,” he said.
Inspector Donovan said police investigated all reports of shoplifting across the district.
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