Two arrested after stolen vehicles and parts were found in Canning Road in Southport

Police have arrested two men after enquiries into suspected stolen vehicles and parts in Southport.

At around 9.10pm on Sunday 19 June, officers were called to a report of a cloned vehicle – A Vauxhall Corsa entering Southport. Officers conducted an area search which confirmed the vehicle was in a locked compound on an industrial estate on Canning Road which officers believe was used to disassemble stolen motor vehicles.

The following day a Ford CMAX and a VW Tiguan were seen near the compound. Officers searched for the vehicles after they failed to stop for police in the area and found them on Wango Lane, Aintree where they were stopped by officers.

Two men aged 24 and 42 from Liverpool were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to steal motor vehicles.

They were taken to a police station in Merseyside and released under investigation.

Both vehicles were seized by officers and further enquiries established that the Ford CMAX was stolen in January 2022 from an address in Liverpool.

This led to a search carried out at an address in Liverpool and the compound that was found yesterday.

The Vauxhall Corsa had false plates and was stolen last week from a Hire Company.

Officers also found a stolen Range Rover inside the property.

Detective Inspector James Halpin said: “We hope these arrests show how seriously we tackle the issue of car thefts, and have seized many of those vehicles stolen.

“An extensive investigation is ongoing and forensic examination of vehicles and parts continues in the area.

“We would urge anyone who has any intelligence or knows someone involved in this crime to contact Merseyside Police social media desk @MerPolCC so we can investigate.”

Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact detectives via @MerPolCC, 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, with reference 22000381661.