A sweet-toothed shoplifter who tried to make off with multiple boxes of Cadbury Heroes has ended up with a bitter taste in his mouth after being caught red-handed.
Jack Gribbins, 27, of no fixed abode, entered the Tesco Express on Abbey Street, Accrington, Lancashire, on Monday night (9 November).
He grabbed several boxes of the popular treat from the shelves before leaving without paying, as reported by Need To Know.
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But Gribbins was unaware that a police community support officer was lying in wait outside.
The PCSO chased him from the store and detained him alongside other officers who had been waiting as part of an operation to catch the suspect in the act.
The incident was the latest in a string of thefts from shops across Accrington.
Gribbins had stolen a range of goods, including chocolates, washing-up pods and liquid, and meat products.
He was charged with 13 counts of theft from a shop and appeared at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court, 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.”
Operation Vulture is Lancashire Constabulary’s response to shoplifting across the county, backed by Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw.
Dedicated officers carry out high-visibility patrols in retail crime hotspots and work with businesses to share intelligence and identify offenders.
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