Malcolm Hitchings (left), 37, and William Hayward, 36, were found in possession of stolen car parts in Pontypridd in June, and were found guilty of handling stolen goods.
Police intelligence linked seven stolen cars worth a total of £75,000 to a unit on Berw Road, Pontypridd, where Hitchings and Hayward were stripping them and selling the parts on.
A number of cars were stolen in Cardiff, Aberdare and Monmouthshire, over a few weeks in April and May 2022, including white BMW worth £6,500 and two Range Rovers.
The unit in Pontypridd, which was being rented by Hitchings, was raided by police in June who found both Hitchings and Hayward standing next to a white BMW which was being dismantled with electric cutting tools. Both were arrested but made no comment in interview.
Parts from each of the stolen vehicles were discovered at the unit as well as 60 alloy wheels and tyres with Land Rover badges, stripped engines and other car parts, as well as a device called a “dongle” consistent with keyless thefts of Land Rovers and Range Rovers.
They have now been sentenced to 26 months imprisonment each.
DC Matthews Evans said:“Both Hayward and Hitchings were clearly using their unit as a ‘chop shop’ and selling on the parts from these stolen vehicles. Such an operation was facilitating organised thefts of vehicles, with a number of victims. It involved high-end vehicles and was operating on a commercial scale.
“I am proud to have achieved a conviction and see the dismantling of this illegal operation which affected so many people and hope that this will serve as a deterrent to those who involve themselves with the organised theft of vehicles in the future.”
