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Operation Vulture is Lancashire Constabulary’s response to shoplifting across the county, backed by Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw and the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime (LANPAC).
The operation sees dedicated officers undertaking hotspot patrolling, increasing their visibility in targeted areas and creating strong partnerships with retailers across the county to better share intelligence, get a deeper understanding of retail crime and identify more offenders.
Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: "As Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner, I will continue to work alongside the Chief Constable to establish a more proactive approach to shoplifting, with better protection for shop workers and improved relationships between retailers and the police.”
Here are the faces of 37 prolific shoplifters that were punished for their crimes this year:
13. Darren McCaul
Darren McCaul, 32, of no fixed address, must not enter any retail premises in Fleetwood or Poulton until 2029, say Lancashire Police. The notorious shoplifter was also sentenced to 10 months in prison after he was arrested in Fleetwood last month. He was also handed a criminal behaviour order for five years, in addition to his prison sentence. | Lancashire Police
14. Aaron Bridge
Aaron Bridge, 37, was charged with six counts of shoplifting and one count of a Section 4 public order offence. Bridge, of Princess Street, Nelson, was sentenced to two weeks in prison after appearing at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court last Thursday. He was also issued with a five-year criminal behaviour order (CBO) banning him from multiple stores on the North Valley Retail Park. | Lancashire Police
15. James Donnelly
James Donnelly targeted a specific shop in the city, stealing from it on three occasions over three days in November 2024. On one occasion, Donnelly pushed a shopkeeper out of the way to make his escape. He had previously been given a restraining order on October 11 after threatening to attack staff members with a knife. His recent shoplifting spree meant he had broken the restraining order. Donnelly, of Crossdale Square, Lancaster, was subsequently jailed for 32 weeks and issued a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) for three years. | Lancashire Police
16. Kyle Ronald
Kyle Ronald was issued with a CBO which prohibited him from entering various stores in the town, including Asda, Poundstretcher and Savers. The 32-year-old ignored the order six times between November 23 and December 13 this year. Ronald appeared before Lancashire Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. He was subsequently jailed for six months after being found guilty of nine shoplifting offences and six breaches of the CBO. | Lancashire Police