Two arrested after chop shop discovered in Worcestershire

It was discovered after a tracker located a stolen car there.

Author: Hannah RichardsonPublished 5th Sep 2024

Two men have been arrested after a ‘chop shop’ was discovered at a farm in Chadwick Bank, Worcestershire.

The chop shop – an illegal enterprise that deals in stolen car parts - was discovered on Tuesday after a tracker located a stolen car at the farm in Stourport Road between Stourport-on-Severn and Crossway Green.

Officers found the stolen car near a shipping container at the site along with other stolen vehicles and property inside it.

They discovered multiple stripped vehicles, key fobs, registration plates, counterfeit vehicle identification number plates, electric chips and nearly £1,000 in cash at the container.

Two men, aged 47 and 29, were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and theft of motor vehicle.

The 29-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of obstruct police officer.

Both have been bailed pending further enquiries.

Detective Constable Callum Godwin of South Worcestershire Reactive CID said: “This was a great result following good work from officers in both North and South Worcestershire responding to reports of a stolen car which was traced to the location.

“There we found evidence of what we suspect is an organised criminal operation involving stolen car parts, fake VIN plates, number plates and cash. Two men have been arrested and we are now investigating further.

“We are pleased to have shut down this suspected chop shop as the cars sold from them are not only fuelling a market for car thieves, but they are also botched together by people often with no qualifications and therefore very dangerous to all road users.”

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