A man faces charges related to handling stolen cars and vans valued at over £146,000 following a police raid on a suspected chop shop. Merseyside Police traced a reported stolen car being transported on a truck to a storage unit located behind a pub off Rice Lane in Walton, Liverpool, on April 2nd. Inside the facility, law enforcement officers discovered a significant number of vehicles and vehicle components believed to have been stolen.
Subsequently, a 41-year-old man has been accused of 12 counts of handling stolen goods and one count of disguising or transferring criminal property, specifically in connection to stolen car parts. The alleged chop shop was situated adjacent to a bustling shopping district that includes a McDonald’s restaurant. As per the charges filed, the total value of 10 of the vehicles is estimated to be £146,600, with a Kia Sportage among them valued at £28,000, while the worth of the other two remains unknown.
The suspected chop shop was accessible via a short path between the Prince Alfred bed and breakfast, situated at the junction of Rice Lane and Stoker Way, and a fence bordering the busy commercial area housing a McDonald’s restaurant. At the time of the operation, two individuals were apprehended and later released on bail. Merseyside Police indicated that one of the arrested men, aged 60, has been informed that no further legal action will be taken against him.
The 41-year-old suspect, hailing from Anfield, was scheduled to appear in court for an initial hearing at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.
