Rochdale car ringing operation smashed

Date published: 20/07/2006

Police in Rochdale believe they have smashed a major car ringing* operation with the seizure of stolen vehicles worth around £1 million.

Teams of officers from the Rochdale division, GMP's Tactical Vehicle Crime Unit , GMP's Stolen Vehicle Squad, Customs and Excise and Trading Standards executed search warrants at H and I Motor Body Shop and an associated scrapyard on Tuesday 18 July.

During the three-day police operation officers have seized 15 stolen vehicles and parts from 43 other vehicles.

Other items recovered include 5,716 litres of illegal vodka, 609,000 cigarettes, 102,000 cigars, 40kilogrammes of rolling tobacco and around one tonne of fireworks.

Officers also found 100 pairs of Nike trainers and around 1,000 pairs of Timberland boots.

The adjacent premises, off Lincoln Street, Rochdale, have been closed down since the operation began and officers are expected to continue their searches today.

Ten men aged between 18 and 35 were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen property as part of the operation. They have now been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Insp Chris Gloster of GMP's Tactical Vehicle Crime Unit said: "This operation appears to have been a resounding success.

"We have disrupted and closed down a major outlet for the breaking and ringing of stolen vehicles.

"Many of these vehicles were originally taken in domestic burglaries or robberies.

"We believe many of these vehicles have been involved in other offences including armed crime and this is one of a series of operations we are likely to carry out in an effort to combat the theft and disposal of vehicles and their associated links to serious crime."

Enquiries are continuing.

* Ringing involves stolen vehicles being given a new identity.