Wednesday, November 11, 2026
A man has been sent to prison after pleading guilty to 13 shoplifting offences in Accrington.
The latest incident saw Jack Gribbins, 27, of no fixed abode, enter Tesco Express on Abbey Street on Monday (9 November) night, where he picked up four boxes of chocolates from the shelf before leaving the store without paying.
What Gribbins didn’t know was one of our PCSOs was lying in wait, chased him out of the store and detained Gribbins, alongside other officers who’d been waiting as part of an operation to catch him in the act.
The incident was the latest in a string of shoplifting offences where Gribbins has entered shops in Accrington and stolen a number of goods, including chocolates, washing up pods and liquid, and meat products.
Gribbins was charged with 13 counts of theft from a shop and appeared at Blackburn Magistrates Court today (11 November), where he was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison. He was also wanted on prison recall.
Inspector Sarah Frankland from the Hyndburn Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “Prolific shoplifters can cause significant harm to businesses and communities, and we know the impact their offending has on retailers who are simply trying to make a living. Jack Gribbins had also subjected staff to threats of violence during his shoplifting, which we will not tolerate within our community.
“With Operation Vulture, we remain committed to identifying and targeting those responsible for repeat offences, and this sentence demonstrates that persistent criminality will not be tolerated. We hope this result provides reassurance to businesses and the public that offenders will be brought before the courts and held accountable for their actions.”
Operation Vulture is Lancashire Constabulary’s response to shoplifting across the county, backed by Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw.
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.