Oldham Neighbourhood Crime Team seizes £250k worth of stolen vehicle parts after identifying them for sale on buy/sell sites
The Oldham Neighbourhood Crime Team seized £250,000 worth of stolen vehicle parts after identifying them for sale on online buy/sell sites. Three men were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. The operation was based on intelligence from the Stolen Vehicle Examination Unit, which monitors online marketplaces.
Three men arrested in Oldham garage raid that nets £250,000 of suspected stolen car parts
Oldham, 28 January - Police recovered engines, gearboxes, doors and suspension parts worth an estimated £250,000 this morning after forcing entry to a garage unit on an industrial park where stolen vehicle components were allegedly being sold online.
Officers from the Neighbourhood Crime Team (NCT) arrested three local men aged 32, 35 and 40 on suspicion of handling stolen goods. The parts are believed to come from a range of high-value vehicles including Toyota Hilux and Mercedes E-Class models, Land Rover Discovery, Volkswagen Arteon, Honda Civic and Vauxhall Corsa.
The warrant followed weeks of surveillance by Greater Manchester Police’s Stolen Vehicle Examination Unit (SVEU), a specialist team that monitors online marketplaces for illicit trade in car parts. Intelligence gathered by the SVEU was passed to the Force Intelligence Bureau and then to the NCT, which led the dawn raid with support from neighbourhood officers.
Detective Sergeant Jessica Parkin of Oldham’s Neighbourhood Crime Team said: “The warrants executed today have led to the recovery of numerous vehicle parts and are just one example of the proactive and positive work we do to keep criminal activity off our streets. But our work doesn’t stop here, and we will continue to tackle this type of crime.”
She urged residents to report suspicions about vehicle theft or suspicious activity, calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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