Police Uncover Suspected Car 'Chop Shop' in Oldham Lock-Up Garages

Greater Manchester Police have uncovered a suspected car "chop shop" operation hidden within several lock-up garages in Oldham. The discovery has been hailed by officers as a "significant find" in the ongoing battle against organized vehicle theft in the region.

Acting on intelligence, officers executed searches at the garages, where they discovered multiple stolen vehicles in various stages of dismantlement. In addition to intact cars, a substantial quantity of car parts and engines—suspected to have been stripped from high-value vehicles—were recovered from the scene.

Chop shops are illicit garages where stolen vehicles are quickly dismantled so their parts can be sold on the black market or used to rebuild other damaged vehicles. These operations are often linked to larger organized crime syndicates, making their disruption a high priority for local law enforcement.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police confirmed that an investigation has been launched to identify those running the site. Forensic teams have been deployed to examine the recovered vehicles and parts in an effort to trace them back to their original owners and compile evidence against the perpetrators. No arrests have been announced yet, but police are appealing to members of the public who may have noticed suspicious activity around the garages to come forward.