Caged puppies discovered at alleged vehicle dismantling operation

Puppies, an air rifle, and six vehicles were discovered at a site in Staffordshire suspected of being a chop shop. Police located the premises after responding to reports last Thursday of a stolen van abandoned on Stokes Lane in Norton Canes, Cannock Chase. The vehicles were transported for forensic examination, and the Cannock Chase District Council was contacted following the discovery of puppies kept in cages. Staffordshire Police confirmed the arrest of a 46-year-old man from Walsall and a 33-year-old man from Shrewsbury, both on suspicion of vehicle theft. Both individuals were questioned and subsequently released on bail as the police investigation continues. Chop shops are operations that illegally dismantle stolen vehicles to sell their parts. Chief Inspector Matt Walker, from the Cannock local policing team, characterized the find as a “substantial find”. He stated that officers believe the vehicles had been stolen only days before their discovery. He added, “We know [combating] vehicle theft is a priority for so many members of our communities. Often, when these vehicles are stolen, they are taken to sites, dismantled, and sold on for criminal profit.” For updates from BBC Stoke & Staffordshire, access BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. This content is copyrighted by BBC, 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for material on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.