Lancashire Police’s Operation Vulture leads to over 30 shoplifters sentenced for thefts across the county’s high streets
Blackpool: In March 2024, Lancashire Police kicked off a big operation to tackle shoplifting on the high streets. They called it Operation Vulture, and it aimed to catch thieves who were helping themselves to goods in places like Blackpool, Preston, and Blackburn.
When the local news outlet, LancsLive, chatted with shop owners, it was clear this operation was a must. They shared stories of organized groups using distraction tactics to swipe high-value items. Some even targeted charity shops, while others made repeat visits to well-known chain stores. So far, over 30 people have been sentenced because of this crackdown.
Inspector Dave Byrne from Preston’s Neighbourhood Policing team mentioned that shoplifting really hurts businesses and communities. He said this outcome is a positive sign that they take these crimes seriously and will keep working with partners to bring offenders to justice.
Operation Vulture is Lancashire Constabulary’s answer to the shoplifting problem, with support from the Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw. The operation involves dedicated officers patrolling hotspots, boosting their presence in targeted areas, and building strong ties with retailers to share information and better understand retail crime.
So, who are these shoplifters that have been sentenced? Well, there’s Gary Stock, who stole £800 worth of designer clothes from a Preston store and got 16 weeks in jail. Then there’s Adam Larkin, who will spend Christmas behind bars for stealing baby formula from Asda, receiving a 20-week sentence.
Robin Connolly, who had a string of burglaries in Accrington, got a year in prison. Aaron Bridge from Nelson was sentenced to two weeks for multiple shoplifting charges and banned from certain stores for five years. James Donnelly, a Lancaster man, received 32 months for various offenses, including pushing a shopkeeper during a theft.
And it doesn’t stop there! Kyle Ronald, who ignored a criminal behavior order six times to steal coffee and chocolates, got six months in prison. Chris Costello, a 61-year-old, was banned from entering Colne town center for five years due to his shoplifting history.
Olivia McNeil was banned from seven major stores in Blackpool, while Alan Morris was caught by two brave six-year-old girls after trying to hide from the police. He ended up with a nine-month sentence and a three-year ban from entering Asda and Tesco in Blackpool.
Claire Snowden and Amy Barnes, who targeted big-name stores, also received criminal behavior orders. Christopher Leigh, who stole from shops in Preston, got 12 months in total for his offenses. The list goes on with more names and sentences, showing just how serious the police are about tackling this issue.
In short, Operation Vulture is making waves in Lancashire, and it seems like the message is getting through: shoplifting won’t be tolerated!
