Five men suspected of stealing commercial vehicles, stripping down the parts and selling them online have been arrested in early morning raids in Rochdale today
The five aged 22, 28, 35, 44 and 63 – were arrested on suspicion of theft of motor vehicles and participating in the activities of an organised crime group. They all remain in police custody.
The group are suspected of stealing commercial vehicles, predominantly Ford Transit vans, and it is believed the vehicles are then being stripped down and sold online.
The majority of the 40 suspected vehicle thefts have occurred on the Rochdale district but the group are suspected to be offending across GMP and also in Lancashire and West Yorkshire.
Police carried out seven warrants in Rochdale and Oldham, where a garage suspected to be used by the group as a chop shop was raided.
A chop shop 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.
Early indications have the monetary value of stolen vehicles and tools to be worth more than £500,000.
