A man authorities said is an illegal alien, Edgardo Morales, was arrested as a "chop shop" on Rossville Boulevard.
Police said patrol officers had gone to Taller Mechanico at the corner of Gifford Street on a report of a sale of a stolen generator to a business owner.
Patrolman Don Bickford recognized what he believed to be a vehicle that was being cut up. He secured the property and called for the auto theft unit.
After a search warrant was obtained, authorities said they found the cut-up vehicle had been stolen in Birmingham, Ala. Also found were vehicles with altered vehicle identification numbers and a vehicle that was being converted, it was stated.
The wife of the owner was also charged after she came up in a vehicle and ran into a building next door. It was found she has no driver's license.
Lead detective was Matt Rogers. Special Agt. Jimmy Ball of the National Insurance Crime Bureau also took part.