Wednesday, October 14, 2026
A prolific shoplifter from Accrington has been jailed following a string of thefts.
Kristopher Murphy, 38, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 16 weeks, after being found guilty of nine counts of theft from a shop and seven breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), when he appeared at Lancaster Magistrates Court on Monday 12 October.
His final offence took place on Friday 26 September, when Murphy entered Tesco on Manchester Road in Accrington, stealing a box of Tony’s chocolate bars.
PS Jade Hutchinson of the Hyndburn Neighbourhood Task Force said: “We take reports of shoplifting very seriously and know that these offences can have a lasting impact on the store workers and the wider community. This sentence sends a clear message that retail theft is not tolerated in Accrington, and we are committed to bringing those committing these crimes to justice.
“We continue to work closely with local retailers and partner agencies through Operation Vulture, to identify, target, and prosecute those responsible for retail crime, and thank them for providing us with invaluable information to do this.”
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.