Man and woman banned from Morrisons, Aldi, B&M and Asda after what they did

Two prolific shoplifters have been banned from entering a number of shopsin two towns thanks to their crimes.

Sarah Healey, 42, and Charlie Woodcock, 31, were slapped with five-year Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBO) as a result of their shoplifting that targeted stores in Blackburn and Darwen. Healey was also given rehabilitation activity requirements and a compensation charge, Lancashire Police said.

The pair, both from Blackburn were arrested as part of Operation Vulture, Lancashire Constabulary’s response to shoplifting across the county, backed by Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw, LancsLive reports. It comes after mindless yobs damaged 41 cars in vandalism rampage through sleepy market town.

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Lancashire Police said: “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.”

Healey is prohibited from entering:

• Asda, School St, Darwen

• B&M Bargains, King William St, Blackburn

• Iceland, School St, Darwen

• Aldi, Montague St, Blackburn

• Morrisons, Railway Rd, Blackburn

Woodcock is prohibited from entering:

• Asda, School St, Darwen

• B&M Bargains, King William St, Blackburn

• Dunelm, Lower Audley St, Blackburn

• Aldi, Montague St, Blackburn

• Morrisons, Railway Rd, Blackburn

Shoplifting hit a record high in 2024 with the number of offences surpassing 500,000 for the first time. High Streets UK, a group that represents 5,000 businesses, called for wider action to deal with all types of crime affecting high streets.

Last month, retailers warned that flagship high streets such as Oxford Street in the West End of London were at risk without urgent national action on crime. Some 530,643 offences were recorded by forces in England and Wales in 2024/25. This is up 20% from 444,022 in 2023/24 and is the highest total since current police recording practices began in 2002/03.

In early July, the Government said hundreds of towns will see an increased police presence as part of the Government’s new crime “blitz” to crack down on shoplifting and anti-social behaviour by “thugs and thieves”. More than 500 towns across England and Wales have signed up to the Home Office’s safer streets summer initiative, which will run to September 30, with more visible policing and stronger enforcement to “restore confidence in policing”.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said residents and businesses have a “right to feel safe in their towns” but the last government left a “surge” in crime.

Anthony Hemmerdinger, managing director of Boots, said: “Retail theft alongside intimidation and abuse of our team members is unacceptable, so we welcome this additional support from Government and the police to strengthen shop worker protection.”

Police and crime commissioners across England and Wales have developed local action plans with police, including in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Humberside, Devon and Cornwall.