More than 100 people have been charged during a major two-day police crackdown on surging retail crime across Sydney.

NSW Police charged 116 people with 130 offences under Operation Percentile, which targeted shoplifting, assaults and intimidation at major shopping centres and public places.

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Speaking to Sunrise on Friday, NSW Police Superintendent Phil Hallinan said officers attached to the North West Metropolitan Region took more than 218 legal actions over 232 offences during operations across Chatswood, Hornsby, Penrith and Parramatta.

He said the blitz was intended to “send some clear messaging to the community”.

“The level of theft in the retail sector at the moment is unacceptable, and people need to understand that if you are going to commit an offence, if you are going to steal an item, police are going to be working together; we will arrest you and put you before the court,” he said.

Hallinan said the “very busy” two days delivered “fantastic results”, but it was a “shame” to see “that much offending occurring in the shopping centres”.

The operation was organised in consultation with retail workers and operators as businesses confront rising levels of theft, abuse and violence.

NSW Police Superintendent Phil Hallinan told Sunrise 116 people had been charged as part of the retail crime operation. Credit: Sunrise

Among those charged was a 22-year-old man accused of attempting to steal medication from a Hornsby pharmacy before allegedly assualting a worker who intervened.

Police arrested the man following a short foot pursuit on Wednesday afternoon and charged him with assaulting a retail worker, possessing or attempting to possess a prescribed restricted substance, property damage, and two counts of larceny.

In a separate incident on Thursday, a man allegedly assaulted two loss prevention officers at a Parramatta department store after attempting to return an item police claim he had taken from the shop.

He was issued a court attendance notice for two counts of assaulting a retail worker and dishonestly obtaining property by deception.

Hallinan said retail employees were being forced to deal with offenders and potentially dangerous situations every day.

“They’re dealing with people every day and sometimes dealing with people at their worst. They’re on the frontline just like all the other services are, and that’s been a big part of our strategy to try and ensure that workers are supported,” he said.

More than 400 people have been charged with assaulting or intimidating retail workers since October 2025.

“It is absolute unnacceptable to assault or intimidate a retail worker ... they do have a tough job, and it’s so important that we support them on the frontline. They’re a huge part of the economy and a huge part of the workforce,” Hallinan said.

He warned there was “absolute zero tolerance” from NSW Police for anyone who assaulted, threatened or intimidated retail workers.

Further Operation Percentile deployments are expected to be rolled out as police continue targeting retail theft and violence against workers.