Teenager caught carrying large machete and Class A drugs after being stopped by police in Preston city centre

Uniformed and plain-clothes officers patrolled the city centre this week to "target those that were making the Christmas shopping experience less enjoyable for others."

One woman was caught with stolen property after being stopped by police.

The property was reunited with two retail stores following a "short investigation" and the woman was remanded to court.

An 18-year-old was also caught with Class A drugs after being stopped by plain-clothes officers in Friargate on Monday (December 18).

The man had been released from prison four days earlier but confidently walked past officers unaware he was being watched. He was subsequently charged for drug offences and sent back to prison.

READ MORE: Man threatened jeweller with angle grinder during burglary.

In another incident, two 17-year-old boys - both known to the police - were spotted entering a bank on Fishergate for an appointment.

Officers waited outside the bank and they both were swiftly detained as they left the building.

One of the boys was caught carrying a large machete, which was uncomfortably positioned in his waistline.

He was also carrying a significant amount of Class A drugs.

He was charged with a number of offences and was due to appear in court on Thursday (December 21).