Police officers in Preston have been blending in with shoppers and store staff as they continue to tackle shoplifting in the city.
On Friday, (28th March, 2024) eight officers from the City Centre and Task Force teams carried out a plain-clothed operation focusing on shoplifting.
Throughout the day, officers, wearing plain clothes, carried out patrols on foot and on bikes in the busy shopping areas of the City Centre.
As a result of the operation:
11 people were stopped and searched and two of these were given a community resolution.
10 stores were provided with reassurance visits.
6 people were arrested. One has since been charged. Jaequarn Silcott, 19, of Oxford Street, Preston is charged with possession with intent to supply a Class A drug.
Inspector Dave Byrne from Preston Neighborhood Policing team said: “This was a really successful operation with some great results.
“We supported some of the highest-affected stores in Preston City Centre, and we will continue this work to stamp-out shoplifting and hold the offenders to account.
The message is really clear: shoplifting will not be tolerated in Preston and we will continue our work to tackle this sort of criminality. You never know when you will be in the presence of a plain-clothed police officer.”
To report a crime to police, you can call 101 or report online at . Always call 999 in an emergency.
You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Operation Vulture is Lancashire Police’s response to tackling shoplifting across the county.
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