Two men charged after suspected vehicle ‘chop shop’ located

Two men have been charged after police located a suspected vehicle ‘chop shop’ near Halesworth.

The term is used to describe a facility used to store and dismantle stolen vehicles, with parts from these often shipped off.

The facility was located in a unit on Walpole Road, Halesworth on Tuesday 7 October. Members of the public reported that a suspected stolen vehicle was located at the site and further investigations located an estimated 13 high-value vehicles that had been dismantled and prepared to be distributed.  

On 10 October, officers from the Sentinel West Team stopped a vehicle on the A12 which contained parts of a suspected stolen Audi from Leicestershire. The two men inside the vehicle were subsequently arrested. 

Mangirdas Mitkus, 24, and Almantas Dapkus, 18, both of no-fixed-abode, were subsequently charged with handling stolen goods. They appeared at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on 11 October. They are due to next appear at Ipswich Crown Court on 7 November.