Arrests after chop shop found on farm

A white van in a car park with the front bonnet ripped off exposing the metal frame Image source, West Mercia Police
Image caption,

The suspected "chop shop" was found on a farm, police said

  • Published

Two men have been arrested after cars and vans were found at a suspected "chop shop" on a farm.

Several stripped vehicles, fake vehicle identification plates and nearly £1,000 in cash were among equipment found in a police raid on Tuesday in Chadwick Bank, near Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire

"Chop shops" are used to dismantle stolen cars before the stripped parts are sold off and even exported abroad.

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

Officers found the site while searching for a stolen car which they said they discovered near a shipping container at the site along with other stolen vehicles.

Key fobs, registration plates and electric chips were also found by the force.

Image source, West Mercia Police
Image caption,

The "chop shop" was found in a search as West Mercia Police said its officers were following a stolen car

Det Con Callum Godwin said the force believed the cars sold from such "chop shops" fuelled a market for thieves.

"They are also botched together by people often with no qualifications and therefore very dangerous to all road users," he added.

The 29-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of obstructing a police officer. Both men were released on bail.

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