Two arrested after police uncover suspected chop shop at Rowley Regis unit
Two men were arrested after police discovered a suspected chop shop in Rowley Regis.
Officers tracked a BMW on cloned plates to an industrial unit off Powke Lane just before 10am on Tuesday (June 17).
The unit is suspected of being a chop shop, which are illegal garages where stolen vehicles are dismantled for parts.
Upon searching the site, police found parts to five vehicles believed to be stolen alongside the BMW, which was confirmed to have been stolen last Friday.
They were seized for further forensic examinations, West Midlands Police said.
Two men, aged 18 and 33, were arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle. They have since been bailed with conditions while police enquiries continue.
West Midlands Police said signs of a chop shop could include:
Noise coming from units late at night or in the early hours of the morning
Vehicles that look out of place going in to workshops and not coming back out
Large amounts of car parts being stored, sometimes in odd places such as gardens
Shipping containers in unusual locations
Expensive items such as engines and gearboxes outside workshops
High value vehicles in and around workshops/units where they just don’t fit in
