Grays car chop shop uncovered by victim of vehicle theft

Detective work by a man who tracked down his stolen car led to the discovery of a so-called chop shop and 10 arrests.

The amateur sleuth travelled from Oxfordshire to Grays, Essex, and found his car parked at an industrial estate in St John’s Road.

Having been tipped-off about the site, police raided it on Tuesday and found 80 suspicious vehicles and piles of parts.

PC Ellie Hawkins said the inquisitive victim’s off-the-cuff action had uncovered a “significant” criminal operation.

Chop shops are units where stolen cars are taken to be stripped down or have their identities altered before being sold on.

Officers made six arrests upon arriving at the site in Grays, before detaining a further four men that later turned up.

Nine were released on bail and no further action will be taken against the tenth man.