A new trend for car cannibalisation is being reported across the UK. The problem has been highlighted by Tracker, which supplies GPS tracking systems to help locate stolen cars.
The process involves vehicles are being stripped for parts – often with alarming speed – when left in public car parks or on owners’ driveways.
“When the pandemic slammed on the brakes on new car manufacturing, the UK saw a surge in demand for used cars and with this a worrying increase in thefts of older vehicles and parts,” explains Clive Wain, head of police liaison at Tracker.
Enabled by illegal ‘chop shops’
Wain continues: “An influx of chop shops – illegal body shops used to illicitly disassemble stolen motor vehicles so their parts can be sold on – began appearing nationwide to support car-theft rings and organised crime gangs. This continues to be a significant concern for the police and car owners. This year to date, the number of illegal chop shops we have helped UK police forces uncover has more than doubled compared with the whole of 2022.”
Although criminal networks in the UK are the main marketplace for stolen car parts, Tracker says that items can end up being sold further afield. The rest of Europe, the Middle East and Africa have all become destinations for car parts stolen in the UK.
Opportunistic individuals are also said to be engaged in car cannibalisation, aided by the ease of selling used parts online.
Tips to deter the car cannibals
Tracker has provided a list of tips on how to reduce the risk of your car being cannibalised by criminals:
- Avoid parking in unlit areas, as this gives thieves cover to work in. Fit motion-activated security lights at home if your driveway is in darkness.
- Consider installing a dashcam in your car, or adding external CCTV to your house to deter thieves. Many dashcams come with a parking mode to begin recording automatically.
- Upgrade your physical security at home, with security posts or a substantial gate to prevent easy access to your vehicle.
- Etch easily stolen parts with the vehicle’s registration number. This could aid recovery, or dissuade thieves from taking them in the first place.
- Add an alarm to your car if it does not already have one. Although it may not prevent an initial attack, it could stop multiple parts being taken.
- Avoid leaving valuables on display inside your car, reducing the chance of it being attractive to opportunistic thieves.
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