A rise in the number of illegal car snatchers has been revealed – and one Ford model is now at high risk of being stolen, experts warn

More than 30 ‘home shops’ where stolen cars are broken down for spare parts have been identified and closed in the first six months of the year, as raids on these illegal ‘businesses’ are set to double by 2023, according to a new report.

A joint operation between stolen vehicle recovery experts Tracker and British police have uncovered 34 locations across the country since January.

In 2022, only 32 were located by the same sting in the entire year, with experts saying the rise in this black market activity is partly due to recent delays in the auto parts supply chain and the cost crunch livelihood.

And there’s one specific Ford model that vehicle security experts say is at increased risk of being compromised by criminals.

The chop shops are tracked by Tracker technology installed in customers’ vehicles – the majority are high-end models that owners are keen to keep safe.

The devices covertly fitted to these cars have helped lead police straight to locations where they are broken down for spare parts to be sold online or where work is done to conceal their identities so the engine can be used for further criminal offences. be used without being picked up. by CCTV cameras.

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

Tracker claims that the stabbings resulted in ‘several arrests’ in the first half of the year, but did not provide exact figures.

Officers from South Yorkshire Police found stolen cars in a suspected ‘chop shop’ in Doncaster earlier this week

A VW Golf was found stripped naked in a suspected chop shop in South Yardley by West Midlands Police in April. Experts believe that illegal black market activity has increased due to the cost of living crisis and recent delays in the auto parts supply chain.

There is one car in particular being targeted in 2023…

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

“However, the cost of living crisis has also fueled illegal activity,” explains Clive Wain, head of police liaison at Tracker.

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

‘With production of the Ford Fiesta ending in July 2023 – the most owned car in Britain with more than 1.5 million licensed models on our roads – a huge market for second-hand parts has emerged as there are also no more new parts are sold for these vehicles. is produced,” he explained.

“Criminals quickly seized this opportunity and lucratively sold 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.

Some 3,392 Fiestas were reported stolen in Britain in 2022, which isn’t surprising. considering it is the most used car in Britain, more than any other model.

Tracker says Ford Fiesta owners should be particularly careful as the end of production of the popular supermini in July has already led to a surge in demand for parts, making these cars more lucrative for criminal gangs to steal and to be divided into parts.

Where in Britain are pork chop shops most common?

Essex, which has several major ports facilitating international trade, has been described by Tracker as the ‘chop shop epicenter in Britain’.

It is closely followed by Greater London and Kent, both of which border Essex and the West Midlands, and offer different routes for transporting stolen vehicles in and out.

‘Essex has always been and continues to be the hotspot for British chop shops, and it is no surprise that London, particularly East London, and Kent feature in the top five areas, given the proximity of these counties to shipping ports. ‘, says Clive.

‘Thieves often try to ship stolen cars or their parts abroad in containers to places such as the Middle East and Africa, where they can sell for two to three times more than in Britain.’

Essex Police reported in May that three men had been arrested as part of an investigation into the theft of stolen vehicles worth £640,000. A diner was found in a unit on Canvey Island. Tracker says Essex is the ‘epicenter of chop shops in Britain’

But while the number of chop shops identified and closed has increased – and the number behind them ended up behind bars – Clive warns we won’t see the back of it any time soon.

“We work closely with the police every day to identify and shut down illegal chop shops, but unfortunately these ‘businesses’ are so profitable and operate so smoothly that as soon as one closes, another pops up to replace them,” he explains.

;However, by acting together, the police, Tracker and our customer community, we can continue to disrupt organized crime gangs and bring them to justice.’