Officers raid suspected 'chop shop' in Manchester with three arrests made

Three men were arrested and suspected stolen vehicle parts recovered as officers executed a warrant on Bromley Street, Manchester, in relation to a reported ‘chop shop’.

Entering the business at around 9am this morning, officers were able to quickly detain three men – aged 27, 32, and 59 - on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

Specialist vehicle examination teams from GMP accompanied neighbourhood officers for the warrant, with initial searches uncovering items that are suspected of being stolen, with further analysis of recovered items to take place in due course.

The business is suspected as having been used in some capacity as a ‘chop-shop’. This is where premises illegally disassemble and ‘chop-up’ vehicles for parts, later selling them for profit. The vehicles may have previously been stolen from their rightful owners.

Greater Manchester Police is committed to tackling vehicle crime and regularly raids illegal premises, building intelligence pictures of people and gangs who profit from criminality.

Inspector Dan Pickavance, from GMP’s Manchester neighbourhood team, said: “Stealing someone’s hard-earned property and selling it on is vile; quite simply profiting off someone’s misery. On our Manchester patch – as teams do across the entire force – if we get reports and intelligence of such criminality, you can expect us to act.

“I hope this morning’s warrant demonstrates our commitment to tackling vehicle crime and the wider offences that can be related to it. We won’t allow this time of criminality and if we suspect premises of being involved, they can expect a visit from us.

“If you have had a vehicle stolen, or otherwise a part of your car, please do get in touch with us. It all builds our intelligence picture and once we have it on record, we can hopefully reunite you with the stolen property should we recover it during our action.”