Chorley is growing into one of Lancashire’s most active commercial hubs. With its busy retail areas, such as Market Walk and Botany Bay Business Park, as well as logistics routes on the M61 and major building work on the periphery, the area is experiencing consistent investment and foot traffic. However, growth entails danger.

According to Lancashire Constabulary’s 2024 crime statistics, Chorley reported 1,513 business offences, including shoplifting, burglary, and criminal damage.

For anyone operating an industrial estate, logistics centre, retail business, or building site, these statistics are a wake-up call. In this article, we examine genuine case files and demonstrate how manned guarding in Chorley and surrounding areas might have affected the outcomes.

Case File #1: Industrial Theft at Engineering Site

Incident:
According to Crime News, two burglars broke into Chorley’s Thomas Hardie Engineering in September 2018, stealing truck lights and causing approximately £3,500 in damage in the process.

Guarding Gap:
No overnight security presence was available on the site. The intruders had no immediate barrier to overcome, and thus they were able to get in, cause damage, and exit before it was noticed.

Guarding Benefit:
An armed guard for the Chorley crew, whether mobile or static, would have patrolled the boundary, monitored movement, and taken action. Even if an entry had been attempted by the thieves, an in-house guard might have recorded the event, alerted authorities, and stopped the damage.

For Chorley industrial estate security, the presence of visible, trained guards is the most effective deterrent to deter criminal intent.

Case File #2: Retail Shoplift & CBO Enforcement

Incident:
In May 2025, a shoplifter who was already subject to a Criminal Behaviour Order was caught stealing £80 worth of meat and cheese from Asda Express on Moor Road, Chorley.

Guarding Gap:
Shoplifting incidents occurred at times when staffing levels were minimal. This is typical in shopping areas where employees are more concerned with customer service than with preventing theft.

Guarding Benefit:
An armed guarding service in Chorley can provide continuous floor coverage, CCTV monitoring, and immediate action if a suspicious person enters. Visible retail guard presence dramatically minimises opportunistic shop theft.

In busy retail corridors, such as Market Walk Shopping Centre in Chorley, retail security guards also control crowd movement during peak periods and de-escalate disputes.

Case File #3: Theft from Van Carrying Copper

Incident:
In July 2024, officers chased thieves who had stolen copper wiring valued at up to £7,000 from a location. The chase concluded in the Chorley area when the thieves tried to transport the stolen materials. 

Guarding Gap:
The pickup and transfer points for materials lacked security screening or escort protocols.

Guarding Benefit:
Manned guard security services in Chorley offer escort services for high-value cargo, ranging from building supplies to retail inventory. Guards check IDs, oversee handovers, and keep high-value items, such as copper cable, safe from exposure to loading or unloading.

For Chorley logistics hub security, this is essential, particularly with the increase in theft aimed at goods in transit.

Case File #4: Shoplifting & Anti-Social Behaviour Crackdown

Incident:
In April 2025, during Operation Sabotage, police arrested six individuals aimed at targeting shoplifting and anti-social behaviour in Chorley’s town centre hotspots.

Guarding Gap:
Although police interventions are essential, they are reactive. Those businesses that have to wait for sporadic police operations have long gaps in active deterrence.

Guarding Benefit:
24/7 manned guarding security company in Chorley provides an ongoing deterrent. Guards offer incident reporting in real-time and can alert police before any situation escalates. At retail parks and event sites, they can also diffuse anti-social behaviour early on, safeguarding staff and visitors.

Our Manned Guarding Services in Chorley and Chadderton

Whatever industrial estate or business is operated near Ackhurst Business Park, logistics operation along the M61 junction 8, or construction project in the Euxton area, our team provides customised, proactive security.

We offer:

• 24/7 patrol for retail, industrial, and construction sites.
• Access control & credential verification for visitors, contractors, and deliveries.
• Incident response procedure, including instant escalation to emergency services.
• Integration of local intelligence, applying local knowledge of crime patterns in Chorley and Chadderton to predict and prevent incidents.
• Security presence on site responsive to site-based risk profiles with flexible staffing to manage peak times and special events.
• Debriefs and ongoing improvement reviews following incidents and using local crime data to optimise guarding strategies.

From guarding building sites in Chorley to protecting retail parks, our manned guarding security services are provided by SIA-approved personnel who are aware of the difficulties of each industry.

Why Businesses Choose Manned Guarding in Chorley?

• Proximity & local knowledge: We have our teams based in both Chadderton and Chorley, so we are familiar with local roads, crime hotspots, and fastest response routes. Real-time route optimisation provides the quickest response times between the two towns. Local partnerships with community stakeholders serve to deter crime before it occurs. Rooted in day-to-day familiarity, our teams adapt patrols to best suit your site’s unique rhythms.
• Industry-specific expertise:  From industrial estate security through to retail security, event venue protection, we shape our approach to your industry. We customise risk audits for your industry, then train guards to suit peak shifts and high-demand seasons. Procedures are aligned with industry best practices and compliance regulations specific to your industry. Scenario-based training (e.g., access control, crowd management, loss prevention) maintains guards on their toes for everyday occurrences.
• High visibility presence: Offenders hesitate when they observe trained guards visibly patrolling your property. Public patrols, signs, and uniformed deterrence complement each other to safeguard assets. Rapid, unobtrusive escalation when necessary preserves security without compromising operations. Routine visibility audits ensure uniformity on all shifts and locations.
• Customer-focused service: Our guards are trained not only in security but also in public engagement, upholding your company’s reputation and ensuring a safe environment. Guards provide a welcoming, accessible point of contact for visitors and employees alike. Feedback loops with site management enable service delivery to be refined to your brand. Incident reports are transparent, timely, and actionable, providing valuable support for your operations.

Call to Action: Free Chorley Business Security Audit

If you have a warehouse or manufacturing business, operate a retail park or shop, manage a building site, or a distribution centre in Chorley or Chadderton, do not wait for the following crime report to prompt you into taking action.

We are providing a free Chorley Business Security Audit to detect weaknesses and personalise a manned guarding solution to your premises.

Have a chat with us today to protect your business around the clock and to secure it from security issues that may arise tomorrow.