Police eyeing two suspects in alleged chop shop on Highway 25

Two suspects are being sought by police in connection to an abandoned shop on Highway 25 that Cape Girardeau County sheriff's detectives say was being used as a chop shop.

"We've got two people we're going to pick up here soon," said Sgt. Eric Friedrich with the department's detectives division. "They're people we feel pretty good about. It's just going to be a matter of running them down. With the news that came out, I'm sure they know we're looking for them."

Detectives spent Friday identifying items in the shop. Friedrich estimated the value of the stolen material between $75,000 and $100,000.

"We're probably looking at five trailers that had been brought in there and chopped up and sold for scrap value," Friedrich said.

Deputies discovered the operation Wednesday after receiving information that a trailer stolen in Cape Girardeau was at the location, near the intersection of highways 77 and 25 in Dutchtown. No one was at the location, so authorities obtained a search warrant. They later determined the owner of the property was renting to another person, who authorities are still searching for.

The FBI is assisting the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Pertinent address:

Highway 77 and Highway 25, Dutchtown, MO