Police have charged a Wyndham Vale man and woman following a series of high-end designer goods thefts, including designer handbags and clothing.
The pair targeted high-end department stores in South Yarra, Armadale, and Malvern East police say, with the first reported incident occurring on October 3 2022.
The male offender was observed entering a clothing store in Chadstone where he selected a number of clothing items, then fled on foot without making any payment.
During a routine patrol on Thursday March 2, police observed a wanted vehicle in Palmerston Crescent, South Melbourne at 12.30am.
Police tracked the owner of the vehicle to a nearby apartment complex where the pair were arrested, and a search warrant executed.
During the warrant police say they seized a small quantity of drugs, believed to be heroin, and allegedly stolen clothing, vehicle registration plates and identification documents.
As part of the investigation police executed additional search warrants in Wyndham Vale and Footscray where allegedly stolen clothing items, from several stores, were seized.
The pair, a 46-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman, have been charged with:
• 16 counts of shop theft
• 2 counts of handle stolen goods
• negligently deal proceeds of crime
• possess heroin
• possess buprenorphine
• deal property suspected proceeds of crime
• contravene a court order
• fail to answer bail
• 21 counts of commit indictable offence whilst on bail
The 46-year-old man was remanded in custody to appear before court today (March 3).
The woman has been bailed to appear in court in May.
