Fleet warning with illegal ‘chop shops’ on the rise

Tracker Network (UK) and UK police in joint operations uncovered 32 illegal ‘chop shops’ during 2022 – more than a 300% increase on the number recorded by Tracker since 2021.

Alongside vehicles recovered that were fitted with Tracker units, it has helped return hundreds of other non-Tracker fitted vehicles to their rightful owners as well as seize valuable vehicle parts worth millions of pounds.

With the popularity of chop shops amongst organised crime gangs significantly on the rise, the stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) expert, Tracker, is warning vehicle owners to be extra vigilant.  

Clive Wain, head of police liaison at Tracker, said: “We have seen a record number of chop shops being discovered and closed down in the UK last year.

“Essex has always been and continues to be the UK’s chop shop prime hot spot.”

Essex police and Tracker recently found a number of stolen vehicles at a Tilbury chop shop site, which had been stolen over the weekend from the Met Police area.

Other key regions for chop shops being found include, London, Kent, Bedfordshire, Manchester and the West Midlands.

Wain explained: “The lack of parts for new car manufacturing in recent years has driven a surge of sales in the second-hand car market, which in turn, generated a higher demand and price for used car spare parts, especially in 2022. This resulted in creating a perfect opportunity for thieves.

“Inside the illegal shops, batteries, engines, and steering wheels are stripped from cars ready to be sold for cash or on the black market.  

“Criminals are working 24/7 to steal cars for their parts to then sell-on to criminal networks, not only in the UK but also in Europe, Middle East and Africa.”

He continued: “We work very closely with UK police forces recovering stolen cars in ‘chop shops’ nationwide.

“A large percentage of vehicles that are stolen to order, are taken to ‘chop shops’ where the criminals strip the parts and try to mask their identities, which can often happen within just a few hours of them being taken.

“Given the current cost of living crisis this industry is booming adding demand for high-value parts being removed for re-sale.”