A man was arrested after reports that a suitcase and 33 knives had been stolen from a shop in Preston city centre.

Officers from Lancashire Constabulary were called at around 4pm yesterday (10 June) after reports the items had been stolen from TJ Hughes in Fishergate Shopping Centre.

A 41-year-old man was arrested nearby and is in custody being questioned on suspicion of theft, police said.

Read more: Barclays Bank in Preston targeted as part of nationwide action

A spokesperson for police said: “Operation Vulture is Lancashire Constabulary’s response to shoplifting across the county.

“The operation will see 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.”

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