POLICE investigating a suspected organised crime gang behind an illegal car parts racket have made two arrests.

Officers from the Stolen Vehicle Squad swooped on two homes in the Audley area of Blackburn on Tuesday morning.

A ‘substantial’ amount of cash, believed to be thousands of pounds, and car parts were seized, police said.

The arrests followed a raid on a unit in Hutton Street in March where police said they found the components connected to 30 stolen cars worth around £500,000.

Police said they believe the gang received stolen cars from across the north west and then ‘chopped them up’ at various lock-ups around Blackburn to sell on the parts.

The men, who are brothers aged 22 and 33, were held yesterday on suspicion of handling stolen goods.

Police said they would be questioned about the alleged breaking up of the cars.

DS Simon Ingham said parts for expensive family saloon style cars, such as Audis and BMWs, were in demand.

He said: “Most collisions are front end damage and can be very expensive. Also if the car is written off by the insurance firm then somebody can get very cheap parts from these kind of operations.

“This type of criminal activity drives up the number of car key burglaries.”

Police believe the gang could have broken up hundreds of cars over the space of two years, earning thousands of pounds a week.

Detectives working on the investigation will also explore one line of inquiry into whether the stolen parts ring is linked to crash for cash gangs, who stage accidents and then make claims through personal injury firms.

A crowd of people gathered outside the address in Audley Range. The second house was on nearby Lincoln Road.