Illegal ‘chop shops’ closed in police crackdown

Police across the UK have uncovered and closed down 60 illegal ‘chop shops’ in the last year, resulting in 144 arrests. 

The discovery of these illegal chop shops was a direct result of police locating stolen vehicles fitted with Tracker device. 

In addition to the Tracker-fitted stolen vehicles found in chop shops last year, 179 other stolen vehicles were also recovered and returned to their rightful owners. 

Organised crime gangs use chop shops to dismantle stolen cars, strip them of parts and sell them on for profit. 

“Our struggling economy means people are keeping their vehicles for longer, at the same time the cost of car parts has increased markedly, which has resulted in an unprecedented demand for good quality second-hand parts,” explains Clive Wain, head of police liaison at Tracker.  

“Professional criminals have been quick to take advantage and meet demand. And it’s not just premium marques that thieves are targeting. We are increasingly recovering models manufactured in high-volumes, such as the Nissan Juke and Kia Sportage.” 

According to DVLA figures, obtained via a Freedom of Information request, 2024 saw the third-highest number of cars stolen in the past decade, confirming that the UK’s car crime epidemic is not waning 

Wain added: “We are seeing criminals revert to ‘old school’ methods to steal cars, such as breaking into houses or physically threatening and assaulting owners to take keys. It's clear owners need to do all they can to keep their vehicles safe.”