Police in Bridgeview, Illinois, uncovered a makeshift chop shop this week. They got a random tip about suspicious activity at a local storage facility. Officers responding to the call discovered three stolen vehicles and a cache of engines, transmissions, and loose car parts spread across five separate units.

Police arrested two people at the scene

A third person is under investigation as part of the ongoing case, Fox 32 shared. Authorities say the operation was active inside the Public Storage facility on South Harlem Avenue.

The cars were in various states of being stripped for parts. Some were still mostly intact. Others had already been reduced to major components like engines and transmissions.

Bridgeview is a southwest suburb located about 15 miles from downtown Chicago. Its industrial corridors and proximity to major highways make it a convenient spot for “discreet” activity.

The Illinois Statewide Auto Theft Task Force and the regional Major Case Unit are now helping police document and identify everything recovered

This process can take time, especially when vehicles have been partially dismantled or VINs removed.

Once identified, any recovered cars may be returned to their rightful owners…if those owners are still around and if the vehicles are even deemed repairable.

If the damage is too extensive or the vehicles have already been claimed through insurance, they’ll likely be written off and junked or possibly auctioned.

Victims without comprehensive coverage face a tough road

If their vehicle was stolen and never recovered or returned in unusable condition, there’s no guarantee of reimbursement. If owners don’t have theft coverage, then unfortunately, the financial hit falls on them.

Bridgeview Police Chief Ricardo Mancha credited the watchful caller who reported the activity. Without them, the operation might have continued unchecked. The investigation is still active as police try to figure out how far the ring extends and whether more stolen parts are still stashed elsewhere.