POLICE have arrested three men and seized about £80,000-worth of suspected stolen car parts.

More than a dozen police officers searched four addresses across Teesside, following an early morning raid, yesterday.

The swoop was part of a week-long operation to crack down on people suspected of handling and receiving stolen car parts and other criminal activity.

Houses in Stockton, Norton and Dormanstown and Unit 5 workshop at Teal Court, Warrenby were raided in Operation Belcher, which is part of the long-running Operation Sabre.

A 26-year-old man from Redcar, a 27-year-old man from Stockton and a 33-year-old man from Norton were arrested.

Following intelligence received, officers were particularly looking for car parts belonging to a BMW Z3, a BMW Mini and Mitsubishi Pajeros.

Thirty-one Mitsubishi Pajero's have been stolen across Teesside since the start of the year.

Police found a variety of parts during the day. Searches continued in the hope of uncovering more items.

Acting Detective Inspector Darren Birkett said police were pleased with how the operation had gone.

He said: "Operation Belcher is part of Operation Sabre, which is targeting those suspected of handling stolen vehicles, breaches of bail and other criminal activity.

"Intelligence has been received over the past few weeks of a number of males working together.

"They were believed to be cutting up motor vehicles and selling parts on eBay."

Mr Birkett added: "We are quite happy with the way it has gone. We have found some of the vehicles we were looking for and an ongoing search will take place throughout the day."

Mr Birkett said this was the first time Cleveland Police had come across stolen car parts being sold on the internet.

He said: "We have never heard of it happening before, but I think it is something we will have to look at now."