Man charged with 12 thefts of steaks and alcohol from Booths and M&S Foodhall in Chorley
A 21-year-old man has been charged following a series of shoplifting offences in Chorley town centre, police have confirmed.
The charges relate to a spate of thefts at Booths and M&S Foodhall where packets of steak and bottles of alcohol were reported stolen between September and December 2025.
Following what police described as “numerous enquiries” by Chorley’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, officers arrested a man yesterday (January 20).
Ben Watkinson, of no fixed abode, has now been charged with 12 counts of theft from a shop, according to Lancashire Police.
He has been remanded into custody and is due to appear before Preston Magistrates Court today.
The force said the investigation forms part of Operation Vulture, its county-wide response to retail crime.
The operation focuses on hotspot patrols, increased police visibility in targeted areas, and closer working with retailers to improve intelligence-sharing and identify repeat offenders.
Operation Vulture is backed by Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, and aims to tackle the impact of shoplifting on businesses and local communities across the county.