Police arrest Robert Cochran, Robert Dean, Charles Cochran, Perry Cochran and Terry Cochran in semitrailer chop shop raid

A raid at a suspected chop shop in northwest Atlanta led authorities to a collection of stolen semitrailers, Atlanta police said. The trucks were reported stolen from Lamar County on Monday night.

Police teamed up with Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents and seized evidence on Regina Drive near Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway on Tuesday night. Atlanta police Lt. Rick Mason said they were tipped off by a driver who staked out the lot in search of his rig.

”The individual thought they knew the location where the tractor was going to be found, Mason said.

He said five people were taken into custody as a result of the Auto Theft Task Force’s bust.

”There were five individuals dismantling a 2012 tractor, and there were two other stolen tractors next to it that had already been dismantled, Mason said.

Police said the suspects removed the engine and other parts of the big rigs to make a profit. They were operating out of a garage, police said. They said the stolen vehicles were worth more than $300,000.

All of the suspects, Robert Cochran, 48, Robert Dean, 25, Charles Cochran, 20, Perry Cochran, 21, and Terry Cochran, 21, were charged with theft and operating a chop shop.

Two months ago, Atlanta police formed the task force to track down suspected chop shops.

”The regional Auto Theft Task Force that Atlanta just formed now makes a routine inspection of every auto repair shop and storage facility in the city, Mason said.

Police said they also found other heavy duty stolen equipment.