Car cannibals target parked vehicles for spare parts
Stolen vehicle recovery expert Tracker Network UK is warning motorists that the rising cost of spare vehicle parts is fuelling an increase in car cannibals stealing valuable spare parts from parked cars without taking the vehicle itself.
Usually operating under the cover of darkness, thieves quickly dismantle vehicles parked on driveways, on the street, or in car parks to steal valuable components such as catalytic converters, alloy wheels and sophisticated electronic systems.
Car cannibals target parked cars
Generally, the most common items stolen include parking sensors, air bags, front bumpers and bonnets, plus headlights, grills and wings. Even basic parts such as brake discs, brake pads and wiper blades are at risk of theft in what has become a lucrative criminal market.
Clive Wain, vehicle theft expert and head of police liaison at Tracker, said:
“This theft technique is fast, eliminates the need for criminals to transport or store vehicles, and is also difficult to protect against, making it a triple threat for drivers. Thieves often operate with a calculated efficiency, using specialised tools to quickly and quietly remove parts, minimising the risk of detection. Rising demand for more affordable spare parts has seen car cannibalisation increasing, just like we have seen with the rise of chop shops in recent years.”
In 2024 Tracker helped the UK police uncover a record 60 chop shops – illegal bodyshops – and arrest 144 suspects, an 80% increase on arrests compared to 2023.
