Punjab-origin man arrested in Australia for 68 supermarket thefts worth Rs 1 crore
Babushahi Bureau
Melbourne (Australia), April 20, 2026:In a shocking case from Victoria, police have arrested a Punjab-origin man accused of carrying out 68 thefts at supermarkets, allegedly stealing goods worth nearly ₹1 crore.
According to investigators, the 39-year-old had been active for the past six months and is facing a total of 87 charges. He allegedly targeted high-value items such as electric toothbrushes, razors, vitamins and skincare products from multiple stores. The stolen goods were later sold in illegal markets at inflated prices.
Officials from Victoria Police said the आरोपी was part of an organised crime network involved in large-scale retail theft. The arrest was made as part of “Operation Supernova,” under which authorities have already taken 31 members of the gang into custody. The operation is being described as one of the largest crackdowns on retail theft in the state.
Police revealed that the man had originally travelled to Australia on a student visa but continued to stay illegally after its expiry. Instead of returning to India, he allegedly went into hiding, staying out of sight during the day and carrying out thefts at night.
Authorities had been monitoring the network for nearly a year before making the arrest. Investigations suggest that the gang systematically collected stolen goods and resold them through underground channels, generating significant profits.
The accused is currently in police custody, and further investigation into the network is underway.