Friday, January 16, 2026
We have charged a man with a string of offences following two burglaries in Preston in which cash, a car and a bank card was stolen and used.
The first happened overnight between Thursday 8th and Friday 9th January 2026 when a Volswagen Tiguan was taken from the driveway of a property on Waverley Gardens in Ribbleton.
On the morning of the 9th, we were called to reports of a burglary at a shop on New Hall Lane where a rock had been used to smash a window before items of stock and the till, containing around £1500, was stolen.
Later that day, another car was broken into and a bank card stolen and used to withdraw money from a cash machine.
Following multiple enquiries by the South Residential Burglary Team, a 33 year old man was arrested.
After consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, we can now tell you that Simon Allonby, 33, of no fixed address has been charged with burglary in a dwelling, theft of motor vehicle, making off without payment, vehicle interference, theft from a motor vehicle, fraud by false representation and aggravated vehicle taking.
He appeared at Preston Magistrates Court on Wednesday (14th January 2026) and was remanded into custody to appear again at a later date.
Operation Defender is a force-wide campaign that aims to combat residential burglary with support from Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw.