Seven people have been charged and multiple blades seized during a crackdown on retail theft across the Illawarra.
The one day blitz targeted retail crime hotspots in Wollongong and Corrimal, with police making several arrests and issuing court attendance notices.
One incident at a Corrimal shopping centre saw a woman arrested after allegedly shoplifting groceries worth about $170, and threatening staff.
Police later found a knife in a nearby bush, with another small blade also allegedly found in the woman’s bag..
The 19 year old is facing multiple charges and has been granted conditional bail to appear in Wollongong Local Court in May.
In a separate incident, police arrested a 27 year old man on Burelli Street, Wollongong, after an alleged shoplifting report.
Officers will allege he was breaching bail at the time, with the man taken back into custody and due to face court.
Police say investigations under Operation Percentile are ongoing.
