Fifty sticky-fingered shoppers have been nabbed during a two-week blitz at a shopping centre in Melbourne's north, with the high number of arrests even surprising police.

Senior Sergeant Adrian Brilliant said police were out in force at Epping plaza during October, after a security manager and several shopkeepers raised concerns about the levels of theft.

Arrests have been running hot at Epping plaza.

The aim was to scare off would-be shoplifters in the lead-up to Christmas, when thefts usually spike.

"It was a preventative thing to say 'we're out there, this is what we've done in this fortnight and we're going to continue right up to Christmas'," Senior Sergeant Brilliant said.