Organised criminals from Bradford are believed to be behind a scam to steal specialist parts from Land Rovers and Range Rovers which are then sold on to innocent motorists.
More details of a West Yorkshire Police operation have now emerged after the Force arrested 15 people in recent months – most of them from Bradford – during Operation Emporia, to tackle the plague of thefts.
Chief Inspector Steve Thomas, who is in charge of the operation, said: “We believe organised criminals from the Bradford district are behind these thefts. The offending is across West Yorkshire but the offenders seem to be localised mainly to Bradford.”
Chief Insp Thomas said the biggest issue was over the removal of specialist LED headlamps, which were then being bought from garages by motorists.
One man has been charged with theft and the others released on bail pending further inquiries.
Two stolen vehicles and a number of stolen parts from Range Rovers have been recovered in raids on nine premises, in Bradford, Halifax and Huddersfield, by a special task force of officers.
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