PC Chris Hopkins, from GMP’s Stockport Neighbourhood Crime Team (NCT) said: “This was a sophisticated criminal operation which saw multiple valuable cars stolen and sold on for gain.
“As soon as we identified the trend, we immediately began comprehensive work to identify all possible suspects and track them. This includes countless hours of monitoring CCTV footage and reviewing ANPR hits from across Greater Manchester.
“Thankfully, this work led us to Sadauskas and Ceponis.”
Police said the pair, of no fixed abode, disabled the vehicle security alarms to steal them before fitting different registration plates and it is believed many of the vehicles were stolen to be sold to overseas buyers
Cars were stolen in towns and cities including Salford, Bury, Trafford, Manchester, and Stockport.
GMP said once a pattern of thefts was identified a specific operation was set-up to monitor the routine, style, and manner of the crimes which led to officers stopping a stolen car with the men inside en-route to Cheshire at 0100 BST on 16 October.
A search revealed a number of tools and devices, including a blank car key, screwdrivers, sockets, pliers, and other items used to break into cars.
An investigation by NCT officers based in Stockport linked the pair with stolen cars and their locations.
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