Police in Birmingham have raided a ‘chop shop’ and discovered parts from 14 stolen cars worth an estimated £500,000.
Inspector Matt Crowley, of Hodge Hill police, said: “There’s been an upward trend of car thefts in the region, particularly car key burglaries and car jackings.
“By taking out chop shops, we can have a real impact on this kind of crime.
“And you can play a big part in helping us.
“Anyone who thinks they know where stolen cars are being handled or dismantled has been asked to get in touch so officers can take action.
“There has been had a surge in people reporting chop shops since we launched a Shop a Chop Shop campaign last summer.”
Around a dozen suspected ‘chop shops’, where stolen cars are broken down into components, have been discovered by the force since the start of last year.
Investigations run by West Midlands Police suggest criminal gangs are snapping up damaged cars rated insurance write-offs from salvage auctions – and then stealing cars to order for the parts they need to fix them and sell on.
