Greater Manchester’s deputy mayor joined police as they searched for stolen vehicle parts at a Chadderton scrapyard.

Greater Manchester Police was carrying out the search for high-value stolen car parts as part of its ‘vehicle day of action’ on Thursday (January 25).

Officers across the force were focused on targeting vehicle crime across the city region, putting extra focus and resources on tackling theft of and from motor vehicles.

Police also handed out leaflets and carried out visible patrols in hotspot areas that had seen an increase in car thefts.

The vehicle day of action falls within national neighbourhood policing week, with GMP highlighting neighbourhood police work.

Sign up to our newsletters to get the latest stories sent straight to your inbox.

Deputy mayor for policing, crime, criminal justice and fire Kate Green joined officers from GMP’s Stolen Vehicle Examination Unit at a Chadderton scrapyard, where she said she was ‘fascinated’ to hear about the ‘complex work’, which she said would ‘disrupt serious crime’.

The visit comes a week after police uncovered a ‘chop shop’ near Oldham town centre with vehicle parts and cars.

Follow The Oldham Times on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Threads.

According to GMP, car thefts have reduced from 20 to 13 this week, after the chop shop was dismantled.

Inspector Tony Allt, of GMP’s Oldham District, added: “It is often that we see stolen vehicles found in chop shops and scrap yards that are ready to be taken apart and sold on for a profit, and in Oldham, we are looking to robustly disrupt the organised process of selling stolen vehicle parts.”

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Oldham. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk or click to send me a message on WhatsApp or on Signal on 07517566383.