Sergeant Darren Lumb said there was an increased focus on shopping centres, supermarkets and fuel stations in Clarkson, Mindarie, Quinns Rocks, Merriwa, Ridgewood, Butler, Jindalee and Nowergup.
“A lot of people don’t realise that if you drive off without paying for fuel or if you steal a chocolate bar, we will give you a $500 on-the-spot fine,” he said.
“More than a third of the reports that we are dealing with are for minor offences.
“It takes up a lot of police time.”
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READ NOWSgt Lumb said that meant officers and resources could be tied up dealing with thefts rather than other issues that the public were more concerned about.
He said with some fuel stations reporting that about $40,000 worth of fuel was stolen a year, police had raised the idea of pre-paid bowsers.