Police in Lehigh County arrested an Easton man for operating a “chop shop” after finding carry-size pieces of 10 stolen vehicles at an Allentown business.

District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca announced Cesar Garcia-Martinez, 54, is charged with two counts of owning, operating or conducting a chop shop and disposition of vehicle parts with altered Vehicle Identification Number and receiving stolen property, both felonies of the third degree.

He is in the Lehigh County Prison, Allentown, in lieu of $75,000 bail.

After a vehicle was reported stolen from Elizabeth, New Jersey, police went to the Allentown Auto Works and Recycling at 299 Cedar St. in the city, an auto repair and salvage yard owned by Garcia-Martinez.

Police said the business was identified when police used automated license plate reader technology.

confirm the vehicle that was reported stolen was at the business.

This investigation included detectives from the Lehigh County Auto Theft and Insurance Fraud Task Force, Allentown and Bethlehem Police departments and an agent with the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The investigation was also assisted by the PA Auto Theft Prevention Authority.