Rise in illegal car chop shops revealed – and one Ford model is now at high risk, experts warn

In the first six months of the year, more than 30 illegal ‘chop shops’ where stolen cars are broken down for spares have been identified and closed down, according to a new report.

A joint operation between stolen vehicle recovery expert Tracker and UK police forces have uncovered 34 sites nationwide.

In 2022, just 32 were located by the same sting in the full year, with experts saying the rise in this black market activity is partly due to the recent vehicle part supply chain delays and the cost-of-living crunch.

And there is one particular Ford model that is at a heightened risk of being pinched by criminals, according to vehicle security experts. 

Crackdown on illegal stolen car ‘chop shops’: Tracker claims it – and the police – has identified more black-market business operating in the first half of this year than it did in the entirety of 2022. Pictured: A chop shop identified by West Midlands Police in Small Heath, Birmingham, in July

The chop shops have been traced by Tracker technology installed into customer vehicles – the majority being high-value models that owners are very keen to keep secure. 

The devices covertly fitted to these cars has helped to lead police directly to locations where they are being broken down for spares to be sold online or work is carried out to conceal their identity in order to use the motor for further criminal offences without being picked up by CCTV cameras. 

And not only have significant numbers of Tracker-installed vehicles been recovered from these sites, hundreds of other stolen vehicles and equipment worth millions of pounds have also been reclaimed.

Tracker claims the stings in the first half year have resulted in ‘multiple arrests’, though didn’t provide exact numbers.

Parts of a stolen Toyota, Ford Focus, Nissan Juke, VW Golf – as well as components from high value vehicles such as a Nissan GTR and Mercedes E63s – recovered during a raid of chop shops in South Yardley by West Midlands Police in April 2023

A VW Golf was found stripped by West Midlands Police at the same premises as above in April. Experts believe there has been a rise in the number of these black market illegal operations due to the cost-of-living crisis and recent vehicle part supply chain delays

Officers from South Yorkshire Police earlier this week unearthed multiple stolen cars – including a Kia Sportage (left) and Lexus NX (right) – in a suspected ‘chop shop’ in Doncaster

There’s one car in particular being targeted in 2023…

‘The alarming increase in the number of chop shops largely reflects a rise in demand for good quality used parts in recent years, partly due to continued new part supply chain delays. 

‘However, the cost-of-living crisis has also fuelled illegal activities,’ explains Clive Wain, head of police liaison at Tracker. 

And Clive says there is one Ford model in particular that is at greater risk of being stolen than ever before. 

‘With the production of the Ford Fiesta finishing in July 2023 – the most-owned car in Britain with over 1.5 million licenced models on our roads – a massive second-hand parts market has been created because new parts for these vehicles are also no longer being produced,’ he explained.

‘Criminals have been quick to jump on this opportunity, lucratively selling on stolen Ford Fiesta parts on the black-market.’

This is Money and Tracker warned this could be the case back in November, shortly after Ford announced it would end production of the popular supermini for good this summer.

In 2022, some 3,392 Fiestas were reported as stolen by owners in Britain, which is more than any other model.

Tracker says Ford Fiesta owners need to be particularly cautious as the end of production of the popular supermini in July has already sparked a rise in demand for parts, making these cars more lucrative for criminal gangs to steal and breakdown into components

Where in the UK are chops shops most common?

Essex, which boasts several key ports providing international trade, is described by Tracker as the ‘chop shop epicentre in the UK’.

However, it is now  followed closely by Greater London and Kent, both which border with Essex and the West Midlands, providing various routes to transport stolen vehicles in and out. 

‘Essex has always been, and continues to be, the UK’s chop shop hot spot, and it comes as no surprise that London, in particular East London, and Kent feature in the top five areas, given the proximity of these counties to shipping ports,’ Clive tells us.

‘Thieves often look to ship stolen cars or its parts overseas in containers to places like the Middle East and Africa where they can be sold for two or three times more than they would cost in the UK.’

But while there has been a rise in the number of chop shops identified and closed down – as well as those behind them ending up behind bars – Clive warns we aren’t going to see the back of them anytime soon.

‘We work closely with the police daily to find and shut down illegal chop shops, but regrettably, these ‘businesses’ are so profitable and operations so slick that as soon as one is closed, another pops up to replace it,’ he explains. 

;However, by acting together, the police, Tracker and our community of customers, we can continue to disrupt organised criminal gangs and bring them to justice.’

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk