Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Friday 7th March 2025, at 20:55hrs
A 19-year-old man has been charged with 28 counts of theft and an assault following a spate of shoplifting incidents in Burnley throughout February.
Rilley Whitfield, 19, of Cleveland Street, Colne, was arrested on March 5th on suspicion of theft after Lancashire Constabulary received numerous reports of shoplifting from various stores in the area.
Following further investigations, Whitfield was charged on Thursday, March 6th, 2025.
The charges include 28 counts of theft and one count of assault. Whitfield has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear before Blackburn Magistrates Court on Friday, March 7th, 2025.
The arrest and charges are part of Lancashire Constabulary’s ongoing Operation Vulture, a dedicated initiative aimed at tackling shoplifting across the county.
The operation is supported by Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw and the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime (LANPAC).
Operation Vulture focuses on several key strategies, including:
* Hotspot Patrolling: Increased police presence in areas known for high levels of retail crime.
* Enhanced Visibility: Aiming to deter potential offenders through a visible police presence.
* Stronger Retail Partnerships: Fostering closer collaboration with retailers to improve intelligence sharing and understanding of retail crime.
* Offender Identification:
Proactively working to identify and apprehend individuals involved in shoplifting.
Lancashire Constabulary emphasizes its commitment to working with local businesses to reduce retail crime and ensure the safety of both store staff and customers.
They encourage retailers to continue reporting incidents and sharing information to support ongoing investigations.
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