Police executed a warrant at a farm in Shirley today (18 Jan) and uncovered a huge chop shop operation.
Officers found several vehicles and engines believed to have been stolen, and arrested four men on suspicion of handling stolen goods. All four, aged 23 to 38, remain in custody for questioning with the 23-year-old also under suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and class A drugs.
Officers also found five shipping containers with heavy duty locks which are currently being searched. The first one opened has already revealed Audi car parts.
Vehicle theft is a top priority for the force and to tackle this we have created a specialist Vehicle Crime Taskforce to stop thieves who not only cause huge inconvenience but risk livelihoods across the region.
The Taskforce has expertise from officers with local knowledge to experienced detectives who are working alongside our existing teams, such as traffic officers and local neighbourhood officers, to catch offenders.
With the help of the public we can continue to tackle car crime and shut down chop shops.
Intelligence we receive can be crucial, so by letting us know of suspicious activity or those involved we can step in and take action.